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Opportunity squandered

Roy Innis
October 26, 2007

A recent Congressional Black Caucus Foundation conference in Washington featured an "energy braintrust." It promised a lively three-hour discussion by oil company, association, government agency and university executives, to "transform dialogue into action" and "bolster the relationships between the energy industry and African-American community."

Sadly, the session moderator squandered the opportunity. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Texas Democrat, knows the oil business and recognized that "energy is the foundation of our economy, the engine that drives the world." But she arrived 40 minutes late, then posed for photos and bemoaned oil industry shortcomings. By the time she introduced the speakers, the session was half over.

The first panelist noted many "public policy barriers" restrict exploration, production and delivery of needed energy. Several said more minorities and minority businesses must be involved in the energy industry, while others noted U.S. laws and policies raise energy prices, make excellent prospects off limits to drilling, and reduce opportunities for businesses and employment.

Mrs. Lee did not pick up on any of these critical issues. Instead, she nodded as her "good friend," the CEO of CITGO Petroleum, extolled Hugo Chavez and offered platitudes about "building bridges" between Venezuela and poor U.S. communities.

After each talk, Mrs. Lee introduced other "good friends" in the audience — and her son, who "needs a job" — frittering away more time. The session ended with virtually no attempt to analyze the shortcomings of current U.S. energy policies.

An hour later, presidential aspirant Sen. Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat, declaimed that climate change is the most serious threat facing African-American families, and "environmental justice" demands that factories not be built in minority communities, because they might pollute.

The message was a politically correct regurgitation of Democratic Party and Sierra Club talking points. It was the same deficient analysis that brought us child welfare mothers "raising" children in fatherless families, schools ruled by incivility and violence, and uneducated youths suited for gangs but not jobs.

African-America cries out for thoughtful leadership. Our country hungers to embrace a strong black candidate for national public office. Instead, our Black Caucus marches in lockstep with activists and legislators whose policies are disastrous for low-income and minority families.

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