Black lawmakers dismayed by Trump’s invite to black reporter
ASSOCIATED PRESS
House Assistant Minority Leaser James Clyburn of S.C spoke during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington last month. Today, members of the Congressional Black Caucus expressed bafflement and dismay after President Donald Trump asked a black reporter to set up a meeting with them. Clyburn said there is “an element of disrespect” in Trump’s comment to journalist April Ryan, asking her whether she was friends with CBC members and could convene a get-together.
WASHINGTON >> Members of the Congressional Black Caucus expressed bafflement and dismay Thursday after President Donald Trump asked a black reporter to set up a meeting with them.
Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina said there is “an element of disrespect” in Trump’s comment to journalist April Ryan, asking her whether she was friends with CBC members and could convene a get-together.
“He’s not going to ask any other reporter to do that for any other group, so why did he do that to her? I think that was pretty instructive to me,” said Clyburn, a veteran lawmaker and member of the House Democratic leadership.
When asked whether Trump was implying that all black people know each other, Clyburn said, “I don’t know what his implications were but that’s my interpretation.”
The chairman of the CBC, Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., issued a statement late Thursday saying the White House reached out to schedule a meeting with the 49-member organization and discussions were underway about a possible date.
Ryan is a longtime White House reporter and Washington bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks. She asked Trump at his East Room press conference on Thursday whether he planned to include the CBC “in your conversations with your urban agenda, your inner-city agenda.”
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The president responded by asking Ryan whether the CBC are “friends of yours” and remarking, “I tell you what, do you want to set up the meeting?”
Ryan herself responded over Twitter: “I am a journalist not a convener! But thank you for answering my questions.”
And the CBC noted over Twitter that the group sent Trump a letter in January outlining areas where they could work together, “but you never wrote us back. Sad!” The organization later issued a statement saying they were in talks with the White House about a possible meeting.
Richmond’s statement said it was remarkable that Trump had not responded to their letter.
“President Trump has been in office for almost a month and the Congressional Black Caucus – which at a historic 49 members is almost a fourth of the House Democratic Caucus and represents millions of African-Americans – did not hear from the White House until we introduced ourselves on Twitter after the White House press conference today.”
Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio said: “We have a rich history, we have some almost 50 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. We’re not new. What a president should say is, yes, it’s already on my agenda to talk to them.”
Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., called Trump’s remarks another “abuse of protocol.”
“Donald Trump knows how to call Cedric Richmond, our chair, and that is what he should do. And then we’ll (the CBC) sit together and see if it’s in our interest” to meet with Trump, Ellison said.
Trump specifically mentioned a meeting with Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., and said the lawmaker canceled because it would be bad for him politically. Cummings, in response, said, “I have no idea why President Trump would make up a story about me like he did today.”
90 responses to “Black lawmakers dismayed by Trump’s invite to black reporter”
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Trump asks to set up a meeting with the group and they complain that he didn’t respond fast enough.
He’s been in office for less than a month…
Agree. He’s barely keeping his head above water as he drowns in his own mess. Besides, there’s no time to govern when you’re still celebrating. #Florida-Bound.
He was not being racist. The reporter brought up the topic of the CBC and Trump would have given that answer whether the reporter was white, brown, yellow, red, or black. Of course, since the topic was about CBC, the reporter was black, and Trump responded to the question.
I heard the bizarre press meeting today. Trump is a real clown whose act has worn thin. Even his supporters, realizing how they were duped, cannot stand him.
You sure you weren’t looking in the mirror?
Allie’s already cracked her mirror.
The “fake” potus.
the FAKE Boss
allie> What you heard or saw is totally different from the broadcast that I watched. POTUS is no clown, but he is so smart that he had the MSM groping for something to catch him lying or making a misstatement. He fed them the tidbit and they jumped on it. Really makes them look like a bunch of piranhas looking for some fresh meat and blood. The only people that were duped was the MSM , because he was laughing all the while, watching them in their feeding frenzy. When are they ever going to learn that he has always bested them.
@ NP5491
“VERY” FAKEnews was born!
POTUS Trump putting the MSM in it’s place…GREAT!
keonigohan> I forgot to mention that, thanks for the heads up!!! The “VERY FAKE NEWS (VFN)” was more than obvious after the press meeting, if you had the opportunity to view CNN, it was so funny to me how they can outright tell lies as they did. POTUS is doing just fine!!!! MSM is VFN and all is well! Aloha.
Clowns to the left of me
Jokers (i.e. President) to the right
Here I am… SMH at the whole thing
@ NP5491
Yes I did catch the MSM heads impl0ding lol! Just like how POTUS Trump predicted!
#MAGA by BYPASSING the MSM and giving Americans UNFILTERED TRUTH!
GREAT!
Allie, Trump is sly as a fox…I agree this was a bizarre press conference but it energized his base and put is trying to silence the press so he can continue to consolidate power. Finger print of Steve Bannon on this conference.
Did you really see the Press Conference? You need to really see thru the rhetoric and hear the essence of the message. The mainstream media is really working in concert with those who want to prevent President Trump from changing the political landscape…”drain the swamp”. If you want go and research how The Press (Randolph Hearst; Hearst Communications) was able to control the country with his monopoly of the press, hence the reason FDR went to his “fire side chats”. By the way, re: President Trump’s path thus far: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Mahatma Gandhi” 🙂
“a real clown”
Oops, there she goes again.
how about picking a real topic, say health care reform, or infrastructure improvement, and coming up with some constructive suggestions?
The CBC, “WHAT?” Congressional Black Caucus send Don the Con a letter on January 19 before he was inaugurated requesting a meeting. Of course he never responded….
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/319958-congressional-black-caucus-we-wrote-trump-a-letter-but-he-never
Then he went on to lie that he had a meeting scheduled with Rep. Elijah Cummings and that Cummings backed out.
Rep. Cummings replied, “I have no idea why President Trump would make up a story about me like he did today,” said Cummings, the senior Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “Of course, Senator Schumer (of New York) never told me to skip a meeting with the President.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/02/16/democratic-congressman-baffled-trump-comments/98007346/
Not to mention his continuous lying about his elector college victory. “I guess it was the biggest electoral college win since Ronald Reagan,” he said during a heated press conference at the White House. When corrected by the reporter who asked the question, Trump responded “I was given that information. I don’t know. I was just given it. We had a very, very big margin.” I was given that information? No, you been feed that lie for months. Not able to simply say, “I stand corrected”?
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/16/politics/donald-trump-electoral-victory-claim/
You’re the President. How can the people believe you?
1st I’m grateful that I do not think in terms of ethnicity but for the fools that do, if you read the article, you should see what a wasted time of reading this was and is. Reporter asks will you talk to this group, Pres says sure and if your so concerned about it set it up. Then she comes across with this pathetic idea that Pres thinks everyone of the same ethnicity knows each other? What world do you live in?
What world do you live in
A world full of opportunity, and not a world where I have to opportunistic in finding new ways to be offended.
You need to get your head out of the sand.
Anything you say when it includes the word Black will be hysterically denounced as racist by them.
They wrote him a 5-page letter on January 19, a month ago. He didn’t bother to respond, and very obviously had no clue what “CBC” actually was, when the reporter asked the question. She had to explain to him what the initials stood for.
Watch the video.
copperwire9> In defense of POTUS, when people shout acronmyms to him, I would think he wouldn’t be familiar with it, and I thought that maybe he considered CBC to mean Christian Broadcast Channel. All a little bit of miscommunication. Aloha!
Typically inane response by Black lawmakers.
Exactly what’s the problem? The lady is a long time reporter, so one could reasonably believe that she has some professional relationships with members of congress. For all we know the members asked her to pose the question to Trump. Being that she asked the question, maybe she could help with arranging a meeting?
Seems that these members of congress are nitpicking again. Looking for reasons to complain about Trump. 🙁
no hon..it is not protocol
No hon, it’s nitpicking.
It’s not nitpicking. Anyone watching that fiasco today could see a troubled man in the throws of a meltdown.
He is failing and badly after only a month in office. Trump is clearly unable to govern.
Another great day for our new President.Even Elijah was cordial in a later interview with the Wolf on CNN. Refused to be baited and said Mr Trump is our President. Klastri better get some help.
No hon tita,it p grabbing.
IRT klastri> between you and allie, I don’t seem to have viewed the same thing. There was no fiasco today and I didn’t see any so-called “troubled man” in a meltdown. POTUS is fully aware of the audience being hostile to him and he just isn’t afraid of them. Love it when he plays with them and makes them scramble all over each other. He is to smart to let them get the best of him. When will they ever learn that they cannot and will not rattle him. He also a good actor and can pretty much control his expressions. Hard to beat him. He is doing just fine in less than a month in office. Amen to that!!!
What Nanakuli ? You like that part huh ?
Eff protocol. Time to change things up. What’s with calling people “hon”. Do you like the city/county of Honolulu that much?
Allie, if you’re really from North Dakota as you claim you wouldn’t use the term “hon”, because that’s a term used in the people’s republic of maryland.
Protocol is a waste of time and keeps things from getting done. Everyone in Washington, politicians and the press need to get off their high horses and get to work. Do whatever needs to be done by whom ever needs to do it. Get to work and stop posturing.
NO hon ,
First of all, why the ‘eff does the President need a reporter to set up a meeting with members of Congress? Both branches of government have staff for that.
Oh, that’s right. The idiot orangutan has no idea how government works.
King Louie in his glory.
Who said government works?
Actually, the PEETUS answered the question when he asked the REPORTER to set up the meeting. He had no clue who she was or whether or not she could actually do what he was asking her to do. But because she was black she “obviously” must know these people (CBC). This PEETUS is really embarrassing the way he conducts presidential business and affairs. I cringe every time I listen to him speak. He has the intellect and vocabulary of an 8th grader (my apologies to all 8th graders).
lol, PEETUS!
Better then you two 2nd grade
Tired off these swamp monsters always looking to drop the race card on any and all that they are against. Drain it!!!!
The CBC sent Trump a letter back on January 19th requesting a meeting and he never responded. Here is a link to that letter: http://cbc-richmond.house.gov/sites/congressionalblackcaucus.house.gov/files/2017-19-01%20CBC%20Letter%20to%20POTUS%20on%20New%20Deal.pdf
Trump lies again!
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. What does the black caucus want? So trigger sensitive. Let’s see them protest when their own sleepy Joe comes up for confirmation as the inner-city czar.
Wonder what the Congressional White Caucus has to say about all this?
I was wondering the same thing!
I was wondering the same thing! Not a duplicated comment SA!
No comment. They’re too busy working. No time to nitpick and cry about minor details.
Working – not nitpicking! Oh, right, it’s hypocrites galore these days! Do as I say, not as I do (now that the shoe’s on the other foot)!
The white caucus had the ACA axed by the orange cockus. They have been taken care of. “I will bring peace and jobs to blacks all across our cities”. And remember this one “What have you got to lose”!
Oh you beat me to the same Question!
Lots of contrived, faux-outrage whenever it concerns anything that Trump does. These people will ALWAYS be offended by something, and they aren’t worth the time of day. They should be considered for what they really are: Background noise.
The reporter ask about the CBC and Trump responded… Said he’d be glad to have a meeting… ask if she might set it up… What an inside scoop for a reporter… and she blew it. I wish the CBC would stop nit picking and grandstanding and have a meeting.. This.. I Ask you first, no I Ask you first” garbage is just silly.
Sham reporter. Rather cry about not being an organizer than making the most of the situation and setting it up. 🙁
And getting the story first since she probably would have been invited to sit in.
Heil Trumpf!!!
Asked again about the rise in anti-Semitism since his election, Trump replied:
“I am the least anti-Semitic person you’ve seen in your entire life …. (and) the least racist person.” (And he said it with a straight face.)
Can’t ever give a straight answer. Responses are always about himself. It was a better response than yesterday when his reply was about winning the election. That was bizzare.
There’s a new sheriff in town, and the President does things a little different than his deviously incompetent predecessor. So he uses a different way of contacting groups, they get upset. People like Cummings would be upset any way the President invites them, it makes good copy and builds up their reps to their constituents but it disgusts the average American, who looks at this as “same old, same old.”
You would think folks would know by now that Trump is different from the typical politician. LOL: I guess that’s an obvious comment. But that’s one of the key reasons he was elected which the media doesn’t talk about. It’s tiring to continue to read and hear silly news which gets some people upset for not a good reason. And again another obvious comment, the media wants to make a story so they’ll take portions of what you said to make a controversy. It’s too bad the media is doing the same with sports. As an aside, it’d be much more beneficial if SA would include what’s happening with our elected officials under Politics instead of supermarket newspaper type of news.
Keep it up SA!!!!! #MAGA
justsayin> He has the MSM groping for something that they can hang him with, and he is so smart that he gives them the old tidbit about how many votes he got, and they just bite into it. He is playing them for the fools that they are and laughing inside all the while. This is just a game that he is playing with them, until they get the message right. When will that happen depends on the MSM. Otherwise, standby for more “fake news.”
@ NP5491
Agree!
POTUS Trump is setting the “VERY FAKEnews” on it’s head by speaking, unfiltered, over the MSM directly to Americans…liberal head’s impl0ding is just the ripple effect of the Tsunami that’s #MAGA
Donald john is truly trans formative personality, changed a pointy white hood made in America, to an over priced redcap made in Bangladesh.
If you don’t shake the tree….no fruit falls out…….keep shaking.
Someone please explain to me why a reporter, who might get one chance to ask a question of the POTUS in months, would waste his chance by pointing out that no, his electoral college victory was NOT greater than others since Reagan. Trump throws the liberals a bone and they fetch it rather than asking substantive questions. He plays them like a fiddle and they don’t get it.
It proves he lies…Great job reporter!!! #MAGA
fstop> He is really doing a job on the MSM and they can figure it out yet. Really making them really look like “Fake News” when they change what he actually said to reflect something else. They just don’t get it. PERIOD!!!! OBTW your post is on the money!!! Really, at this point in time who cares how many votes he got. There is so much more important things going on than to worry about trying to catch him is a misstatement or lie. MSM needs to get a life!!!
Oh, that’s funny … “at this point in time who cares how many votes he got.” You’re spot-on. The problem is only ONE person cares and it’s Trump. He’s the only one still talking about the election and the campaign. He’s so insecure about his election, and the fact he lost the popular vote rankles him to no end.
I think most Americans would cut him a break if he’d just move on. Stop bitching about the MSM, which is just doing its job (and doing it well), and start acting like a president and … govern! And, no, just dropping executive orders doesn’t count.
Oh, that’s funny … “at this point in time who cares how many votes he got.” You’re spot-on. The problem is only ONE person cares and it’s Trump. He’s the only one still talking about the election and the campaign. He’s so insecure about his election, and the fact he lost the popular vote rankles him to no end.
I think most Americans would cut him a break if he’d just move on. Stop complaining about the MSM, which is just doing its job (and doing it well), and start acting like a president and … govern! And, no, just dropping executive orders doesn’t count.
roughrider> At this point in time do you really think the POTUS gives a rip about the election? After all, he is the 45th President of the United States of America! Isn’t this a FACT? Then why does the MSM with their VFN continually try to to delegitimize his office? Isn’t this also a fact, and this I would venture to say is doing their job, and a good job at that? I think NOT because he is smarter than the MSM and continues to use the subject of the election as a ruse to bait them into jumping through their A__. This is his best bait to knock them off their focus and all they can report is that he was ranting and raving. If what he did in the press conference is R&R, I would really like to see him when he is really PO’d.
I just watched the clip with the reporter. Now I know why we have such horrible race relations. It’s because of these so called leaders of the CBC. I thought government suppose to be color blind???
If you really want to see the CBC folks in action, watch the last 20 minutes of the Jeff Sessions senate confirmation hearing on CSPAN.com. Pits three CBC members against three “joe six pack” blacks….very telling that the CBC folks have chips on thier shoulders and are still living back in the 1960s…sad
Is America great for you, as an individual again? If so please leave a comment that tells us how so? Not a troll comment here, just an interested party asking a question…I am personally waiting for all of the jobs to come rolling in
I saw the press interview and trump acted like a complete ASS. He reminded me of the school yard bully. He was very disrespectful to the reporter. I also watched Shepard Smiths response on the fake news issue and as a Fox reporter he was disturbed about what Trump said about the fake news. I would like to see the White house reporters boycott his press conferences and see what he does.
I think Trump was pretty klutz and inexperienced in dealing with Members of Congress and other politicians, but I wouldn’t read more into it. The reporter asked if he was going to meet with CBC and Trump being agreeable asked if he could facilitate. If the reporter was offended by his role being over-broadened, he should have said so. Trump still does have the right staff on board to advise him or help him.
I saw the Press Conference, after the exchange below…Ryan was dumbfounded but respectful.
“The president responded by asking Ryan whether the CBC are “friends of yours” and remarking, “I tell you what, do you want to set up the meeting?”
Ryan herself responded over Twitter: “I am a journalist not a convener! But thank you for answering my questions.”
Ryan should reconsider, if I were her I would “take the responsibility” and facilitate this meeting. What a great segway into 1) carrying out a request by the President of the United States and 2) establishing yourself with the CBC!
I saw the press conference and in my opinion, the CBC does not want President Trump making any headway with the grass root African Americans. The CBC is part of the congressional establishment and want to suppress giving President Trump the populace they represent. Just saying. 🙂 Please watch the press conference and the exchange between Ryan and President Trump…it was civil! Just saying… 🙂
Right on the money wn.
He is dammed if he does and dammed if he doesn’t by some folks. That is what happens when you hate the man personally.
And this is “Top News”? come on ‘Star’ this is Back page News.
April Ryan is a reporter, not a member of congress or of any other political office. What Trump did is like Governor Ige asking reporter Jordan Segundo to set up a meeting with him and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce. We pay tons of tax dollars so that Trump can have an extensive staff. Setting up meetings is THEIR job, not that of an independent reporter.
I think April Ryan is a class act.
But I don’t think Trump was being disrespectful, more like “Hey, I’ll do anything to move this forward”
Not sure why anyone responds or comments on Allie’s posts. This invitation or anything else from Trump would be criticized. it’s beyond ridiculous.
With the attitude Cummings is showing , I wouldn’t meet with him and his gang of witch hunters either. Nothing good can come out of it. Once Cummings decides he actually wants to get something positive done then perhaps the President of the United States can take time out of a very busy schedule to help them out.
Cummings needs to think about who he is talking too. He acts like a teenager arguing with his teacher. Easy to see why the blacks are having such a hard time , no leadership.
Why is there a CBC? Is there a CWC or a CLC?
The “Congressional Black Caucus” is a racist, crybaby, group.
How about having a “Congressional White Caucus” ?
How about having a “Congressional Asian Caucus” ?
How about having a “Congressional Latino Caucus” ?
How about having a “Congressional Female Caucus” ?
The CBC is all about keeping the victim mentality with their people.
Sounds to me that the CBC is pushing to keep the races divded. Not in words so much but in actions. SAD, all the work that has gone to make the Races all Equal.
Did the writer actually see the conference? My recollection was the reporter brought up the black caucus and Trump said they had set up a meeting weeks ago and when his people called they did not call back. He mentioned finally heading that Cummings felt it would not be politically good fir him to meet. He asked if she would be interested in setting something up and he would love it if she could do it. At the time she sure weened enthusiastic. Who made her change her tune and what is wrong with Trump seeking help. Always got to bring in race. I thought this cra@p would stop after Obama left office.