By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Sep 28th 2010 10:21AM
Filed under: Dr. Boyce Money, News
I watched 'Anderson Cooper 360' last night, and saw a black woman's face on the screen. Like most other African Americans, this was my cue to turn the volume up to find out what might be going on. As I watched Anderson stare at the screen with his piercing, cold, concerned eyes, I could see that he and his guests had made the Congressional Black Caucus their target for the night. The arrows hit the bull's-eye, and Anderson seemed to keep throwing them.
The subjects of their disdain were Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and Sanford Bishop (D- GA). Both of the legislators are being accused of using CBC Scholarship funds as their personal family gift bag. Johnson was made into the worst of the culprits, giving $31,000 in scholarship money to her relatives. She also signed two letters written to the CBC Foundation specifically requesting that the funds be sent directly to her two grandsons and grand nephews, instead of their universities. Rep. Bishop is accused of giving three scholarships to his stepdaughter and wife's neice in 2003 and 2005.
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Congresswoman Johnson didn't look so good after the segment, as Anderson politely pointed out every single contradiction in her defense. She first claimed that she was not involved in the administration of the scholarship money, but that is contradicted by the letter she wrote, asking that the funds be sent to her grandchildren. She is also making matters worse by taking a more aggressive public stance on the matter and seeming to claim that she did nothing wrong. She at first argued that she didn't know the rules of the scholarship, and later seemed to know the rules better than she initially stated.
Congresswoman Johnson also violated the rule stating that the scholarships must go to someone in her district. The relatives she gave the awards to are not represented by Johnson. This revelation undermines her credibility with voters in her district, since it appears that she is not representing their interests. I would personally be livid to find out that my child applied for a scholarship that was given to a less qualified student who happened to be related to the person in charge of the funds.
Taking this from the top, it's clear that Congresswoman Johnson made a mistake. Her decision to use CBC Foundation scholarship money for personal benefit not only stinks of corruption, it undermines the hard work being put in by young people across America who truly thought they had a chance to win those scholarships. Congresswoman Johnson has repaid the money, which is certainly a good thing for her administration. She also has the loyalty of her district, which has elected her time and time again. But I personally believe she is not being truthful about how some things went down, including the fact that she is unaware of who signed her name to the letter stating that the money go directly to her relatives. If someone signs your name and pretends that the letter is written by you, they should be prosecuted for forging your signature.
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Congresswoman Johnson has refused to apologize for any wrongdoing. She is also unwilling to defend herself in the national media to exonerate herself and her team. She and Bishop seem to believe that by remaining silent in the shadows, this will all go away. By avoiding the issues, Bishop and Johnson are behaving like arrogant aristocrats who can ignore the interests of the people they represent. This adds to the pre-existing damage to their reputations for leaving common folks to the side so they can use government resources to take care of their own. This kind of elitist behavior should not be tolerated by any of us.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
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Comments: (8)
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By: rasfanta on 9/29/2010 9:52PM
This is why mostly all of the representatives in congress need to be voted out and a fresh crop of law makers voted in - preferably with no allegiance to democrat or republican. These people get into office and forget about the people they represent. The job becomes about them and they abuse the power that has been given to them by the people. This is small peanuts compared to the million dollar deals done by members of both houses that serve their interest and not the interest of the people. vote them all out, now.
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By: Hotep2You on 9/29/2010 7:26AM
Clearly both members of the CBC are guilty of wrong doings and their indiscretions have been laid bare. Restitution has been offered, and paid. There is still the possiblity that other sanctions will be levied by the CBC and or the U.S. Congress against Johnson and Bishop.
Are they really acting as "arrogant aristocrats...elitist," as you assert? Or are they exercising "their right" to remain silent so as to not further incriminate themselves in what could shape up to be a criminal case? Can't blame them, or anyone for that in my opinion.
What they've done is with no equivocation- deplorable. But it certainly does not mark the end of the world. There is nothing that either could say at this point to diminish- nor even bring about some clarity to what they've done. Perhaps an ofference of an apology is what you and others are seeking.
But guess what- that will not change a thing.
At this point their constituents...that is, those folks who've actually been paying attention since this hit the news waves months ago, are fully aware of their offence. It is now up to those people that they represent to either oust them from office (which would be my choice), or forgive and keep a closer watch as they continue to stand in support of johnson and bishop. oh and keep a closer eye on the CBC too, 'cause afterall this occurred on their watch!
but enough with, and the call for- public lynchings.
i personally am over the media, and talking heads paid by the media's incessant need to drag things on and on long "after the fact." Especially doing so when the targeted person is a black man, or woman...persons who've done something that their white counterparts have been doing for centuries without consequence.
They've been busted, and embarassed. Restitution has been paid. There is still the possiblity that further sanctions will be handed down my the CBC, and Congress. They've risked being outsted when it is their time for re-election.
Enough Already...
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By: c.maghee on 9/29/2010 4:30PM
Leave Edie alone; she has paid her due's, and she has done nothing that so terrible that sooooo many others have done and are continuing to do. Go investigate them.
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By: aeronurse63 on 9/29/2010 4:23PM
Finally, an article written by Dr. Watkins that I agree with!
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By: tewdrowos on 9/30/2010 2:12PM
Great job Anderson ,I am sick of the political whores using and exploitating BLACK PEOPLE,I can go down the list calling names but I want.I think their are several more who continue to run game and they to will be brought out of the closet.I say to Black People there is bad and good in every race so stop thinking that people have your best interest just because they are Black.Their are some Blacks 10 times more likely to screw you than an Asian,White person,or mexican wake up!
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By: Laquia on 10/03/2010 6:21AM
Progression becomes consistently more difficult when those that are at the top choose to misuse their power. It's sickening and disheartening, but a good reminder that we have to do our research when deciding which causes to support!
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By: goddess on 10/09/2010 7:16PM
and then Blacks have the nerve to wonder why they as a people do not have anything, why have the been forsaken--it is because they should know better! They being the progenitors of civilization, have strayed away and have taken up the ways of the heathen--and so it goes. . .but is a separating the chaff from the wheat!
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By: Liz on 8/01/2012 1:16AM
Forget about color (funny I'm posting this on a Black voice website though I'm a white voice) I am a WV student and I am doing a paper on Eddie Bernice Johnson as the first nurse to be elected to Congress.It wasn't until I started to do the paper that I became aware of this scholarship scandal. My opinion is that she had an opportunity to help her grand kids and jumped on it. Kinda like Christmas. Grandmas do funny things with there grand kids. They will help them no matter what. They forget about the rules and just try to slip one by hoping no one will be the wiser. I have to say that was pretty brave. Ethical or not well according to the true definition of ethical one would have to know the other side. An ethical dilemma has two sides the obvious one and then the not so obvious. Do you know her grand kids? It is illegal to steal but if you were a mom whose children had no food and you lost your job the utilities were shut off and you stole food for your kids is that still illegal.That is an ethical dilemma. Think about it oh you who sit in your comfortable houses. Its easy to say "yeah she 's stealing" as your children go off to college with their tuition all paid for. I wish I had a grandma who gave me money for my tuition. The black part has nothing to do with this. She wanted to help her grandkids and until you have them you don't know what that's like. This gov't is full of money for kids they should make it more available so people don't have to steal.
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