Black Chamber of Commerce CEO Calls Barbara Boxer A Racist
Black Chamber of Commerce CEO Calls Barbara Boxer A Racist
In an Environment and Public Works hearing today, National Black Chamber of Commerce CEO Harry Alford accused Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) of being a racist. Alford, an opponent of the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act, attacked Boxer for being “racial” when she cited the NAACP’s support of clean energy and climate legislation. Saying he took “offense as an African American and a veteran,” he asked why she didn’t quote an “Asian” instead:
Madam chair, that is condenscending [sic] to me. I’m the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and you’re trying to put up some other black group to pit against me. . . .
All that’s condescending, and I don’t like it. It’s racial. I don’t like it. I take — I take offense to it. As an African-American and a veteran of this country, I take offense to that. You’re quoting some other black man — why don’t you quote some other Asian or some — I mean, you’re being racial here. And I think you’re getting on a path here that’s going to explode, in the Post. . . .
We’ve been looking at energy policy since 1996. And we are referring to the experts, regardless of their color. And for someone to tell me — an African-American, college-educated veteran of the United States Army — that I must contend with some other black group and put aside everything else in here. This has nothing to do with the NAACP, and really has nothing to do with the National Black Chamber of Commerce! We’re talking about energy. And that — that road the chair went down, I think is God awful.
Watch the exchange:
Alford, whose organization has received at least $275,000 $350,000 from ExxonMobil, was invited by the Republican members to testify. He purported to have “a deep understanding of small and minority-owned businesses” and spoke on behalf of the “black community” in his opening statement. He cited a flawed economic analysis of Waxman-Markey commissioned by his organization that estimates extreme costs for reducing our dependence on coal and oil.
As Sen. Boxer noted, it seems “relevant” that other organizations with “a deep understanding” of the “black community,” such as NAACP and 100 Black Men of Atlanta, see the threat of global warming and the opportunity in a clean energy future.
Later in the hearing, Alford argued, “Let me speak for the African-American community, because I am African American.”
The debate about race appeared to leave Democrats grumpy. When Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, the top Republican on the panel, interrupted Sen. Tom Carper, the Delaware Democrat snapped: “Damn it. I want to be given the respect that I gave you.”
Alford conceded that addressing climate change “should be a no-brainer,” but he called for an energy plan that expands the use of oil, gas, and coal. Befuddling? Perhaps not, when you note that Alford’s group has received $350,000 from ExxonMobil since 2003 and Alford has a history of offering up climate skeptic talking points.
Well, as an African American I don't know what the hell Alford was upset about — other than the fact that Alford was shown that his shilling for the right is not appreciated in much of the community he claims to represent. . .For a man who compares seeking to organize a union through a person-to-person card-check drive to the efforts of Southern segregationists to violently suppress the black vote, a complaint that Boxer citing a resolution by the NAACP on climate change in a climate change hearing is somehow "racial" and something that would "explode" is certainly audacious. Condescending, though, is more apt.
So let's be clear: Harry Alford does not speak for the African-American community. He does not speak for me. He speaks for a cabal of conservative obstructionists who are hell-bent on protecting the old order of oil companies being unaccountable to the environment, employers being unaccountable to their workers—and of African Americans who won't pimp for the interests of corporate America being kept in their place.
48 Responses to “Black Chamber of Commerce CEO Calls Barbara Boxer A Racist”
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Any organization that refuses to reveal its membership definitely has something to hide.
July 16th, 2009 at 4:29 pmI am sorry but he is the president of Black Chamber of Commerce. He is exploiting his race with his association. Yet he gets offended when Boxer brings up other black associations? I guess his organization is the only one who can use the word!
He came into the hearing looking to start a trouble!
July 16th, 2009 at 4:52 pmNot to mention his ExxonMobil funding
July 16th, 2009 at 4:53 pmI wonder when the oh so sensitive conservatives will get on his case for playing the “race card”
July 16th, 2009 at 5:01 pmAnother thought:
It occurs to me that folks have made the observation that suggesting that any one African American, or member of any identifiable ethnic group speaks for all has a taint of racism.
July 16th, 2009 at 5:10 pmWhat she did was wrong because he’s the CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, discussing Clean Energy, which would be business related, and she’s citing the NAACP, an advocacy group for minorities, to counter his testimony. It’s like citing the NAACP to counter the testimony of a black Christian group while discussing theism. It’s not their area of expertise.
July 16th, 2009 at 5:49 pmWhy did Boxer use African-American organizations only? Where were the Asians, American Indians? Eastern Europeans? Cubans? etc. Because 90% of AA’s vote for the Dems. She is using them as her “diversity” play. So we are suppsoed to listen to a senator from a bankrupt state about the cost of this program?
July 16th, 2009 at 6:05 pmYou folks have got to be kidding me.
If the situation were reversed here, you’d be crying racism in the streets like you had a claim to the term. Your responses are inane and sophomoric – GreenMile deflects by pointing fingers at Alford; Meiser accuses him of “exploiting” his own race; Walker suggests that it’s not so bad since the Republicans are more racist.
I don’t think Boxer is a racist. I do think, however, that her comments were unreasonable and that her research reflected the implicit mantra of race-baiting Democrats: you’re in the Uncle Tom minority.
I’m a minority and I’ve voted for Democrats my entire adult life. People like Barbara Boxer make me want to vote straight down the Republican ticket – and I can’t stand Republicans.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:09 pmWho cares what this obese parasite thinks. This man has been a radical liberal and racist all his life. You knowwhat the Black Chamber of Commerce contributes to this country…NOTHING!
July 16th, 2009 at 6:48 pmHow refreshing to hear objective analysis of a national issue from a black leader, without resorting to the tactics of race. Shame on Boxer! Mr. Alford is intelligent and informed and should be listened to carefully by his supporters, not the little people who continue to bring up all these truly stupid, unimportant side issues like who supports his organization. The Democrats should be ashamed of this California pretender to leadership, the (very wealthy) Mrs. Boxer.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:50 pmJohn R is absolutely right. She used the NAACP because she thought he would identify as a black man in spite of the overwhelming evidence showing that we are exhausting resources chasing a problem that at best is completely out of our control or at worst doesn’t even exist in the first place. Personally, I refuse to jump on the man-caused global warming bandwagon when there is so much evidence that these cycles have occurred long before motorized transportation.
July 16th, 2009 at 6:58 pmThat whore, Senator Boxer, is a racist, most politicians are; they put people into groups. Why do they do this? So they can erode the rights of the individual. They race bait all the time to gain power and control. They position group against group, race against race, all as a cover up to take away the rights of the most important minority of all, the individual. It is all a smoke screen. It is so very cunning and evil.
July 16th, 2009 at 8:54 pmCivility, objectivity, common sense, reputable research – all down the tubes. No decorum in these hearings; no statesmen in our Congress – only pandering politicians. It’s all so ludicrous and so very dangerous to the welfare of our country.
July 16th, 2009 at 10:24 pmGood for Mr. Alford! Barbara Boxer in her boxed-in view of the world tried to strong arm Mr. Alford by basically telling him, “your people have already spoken on this topic. get in line.” She is appalling and shameless. Apparently Ms. Boxer thinks that people just line up behind their demographics rather than think for themselvs. I must say however she sure can ad-lib. Must be because she’s a Californian. Tell her to have a granola bar and concentrate on her own state’s problems.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:09 pmShe is stupid. And rude. Did you hear her in the end talking over him and ignoring everything he was saying. She is rude condenscending witch.
Californians should be embarrassed that she represents them.
That man was intelligent…..and deserved respect.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:20 pm“Whore?” Hey Wayne, what are you, like 10 years old? Energy, global warming, and environmental science have nothing to do with Mr. Alford’s ethnicity. If he stated his opinions as a scientist, and happened to be a black scientist, Boxer’s citing of the NAACP report WOULD have been racist. But Alford’s very reason for being there was to represent a black perspective, and Boxer did an excellent job demonstrating that his was not the only black perspective. Evidently, his little puppet-show of an organization is in the minority of the black perspective on the matter. I personally don’t give a flying flip about ANY Chamber of Commerce’s opinion; as a hammer sees all things as a nail, they are myopically driven to put a higher value on temporary-job creation than global solutions.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:32 pmThe Racist act was not in what was said, but in the action of Sen. Boxer making note of Afrimericans not present that supported the agenda, while ignoring the input of the Afrimerican that was present as if he was a non-entitiy when in fact his presence was more apropo to the hearing, and hearing procedure, because it is the voice and action of those present that are used to make the decision.
It’s like someone talking about you as if you are not there, and everything you say is ignored. That’s rude, but in relation to centuries old tactics of Whites in power per how they treat or mistreat Afrimericans in that manner, it is racist.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:39 amNo one should listen to this man because he is not as much of a Californian as Boxer. You see when you are born and raised in Oxnard and move to metro DC, you can no longer claim to be from California. However, if you are born and raised in Brooklyn and marry a rich guy from Marin County and THEN move to metro DC, you are now from California and thus have more credibility.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:42 amAll the libs do this type of thing. Just read Moron Dowds op-ed piece in the NY times. Everyone fits into a catagory, spicy latina, old white republicans. The irony is, people like her keep us from getting beyond race. They are dinosaurs, and pissed off at that! Why would someone wake up everyday so miserable.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:55 amSenator (she worked so hard for that title) Boxer should take her vampid little racist self back to California and work on what the hell is going on there. Instead she is pulling out her race card to impress a black man, her motive… to keep black people looking and hoping that the great white Senator from California is on their side. Get real global warming is out of the control of MS Boxer and her political cohorts, but be assured, they will exploit it for every dollar and political point possible. Bully for Alford!
July 17th, 2009 at 2:15 amI think BOXER should resign as a U.S. Senator. She is a Racist, no doubt. Last week it was her going off at Generl of the Army, this week she gets into it with the President of the BLACK Chamber of Commerce? She needs to resign and then undergo rehab and intense Educational re thinking. I believe if enough people would petition the U.S. Senate to hold hearings on this, she will resign.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:01 amBarbara kinda got caught there. She was dead in the water and she was scrambling for some solid ground but didn’t find any. She was clearly being racist and was called on it. She didn’t know how to manage it and that was clear…he really called her on the carpet and was pretty cool in doing it. She being the big Senator and all did not scare him.
July 17th, 2009 at 3:30 am“How refreshing to hear objective analysis of a national issue from a black leader, without resorting to the tactics of race.”
Google up his testimony. He was there to talk about about the climate change legislation in terms of how he thinks it would affect the black community economically. Under those circumstances, there was nothing wrong with Sen. Boxer citing the NAACP.
July 17th, 2009 at 7:09 amThe man made reference twice in his prepared remarks to his advocacy for minority owned businesses. That, and the name of his organization, made her Boxer’s comment completely appropriate. If he hadn’t brought it up in his written testimony, and his organization had a different name, she wouldn’t have made the reference or, if she had, it would at the point be racist. But that is not what happened.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:24 amShorter Senate Hearing:
Alford: The black community hates climate change legislature.
Boxer: But the NAACP supports this bill.
Alford: How dare you bring race into this debate? Why didn’t you cite an Asian group? What a racist!
Addendum: Mitch, try actually watching the video for context. You’re such a tool.
July 17th, 2009 at 11:40 amFake republican outrage! Just the thing to cover
Sen. Sessions’ racist, KKK-tattooed arse. Somebody give that ‘other’ fellow a lobbyist job ASAP. The media wont be talking about Ensign, Sanford or The Family of C Street any more. 24/7 Boxer is a Racist headlines from now until 2010!!!!!!!!
Yep, fake outrage and pretend victim-hood: the republican lifeline and the fluttering heartbeat. When you have no ideas, you go with what you know.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:12 pmAlford agonizes when Boxer mentions an African-American group who disagrees with him because it’s “racial.” That his organization is called the Black Chamber of Commerce is what brings “racial” into it.
To bolster his argument that the NAACP is irrelevant to what he is saying, he twice cites that he’s an army veteran. Talk about irrelevant.
He appears before a senate committee representing an African-American business group, but gets offended when another Black business group (namely 100 Black Men of Atlanta) is cited. Sen. Boxer is not a potted plant. It’s her job to challenge the witness (he is a witness on pending federal legislation, not just a mouthpiece that gets to spout things without question).
Boxer is allowed to cite her sources without them being present and it is certainly not up to Alford to demand that she call them as witnesses. The documents she cites have been entered into the record. If he or anyone else cares to challenge the record, they may do so. They may not, however, challenge them on the fact that their authors are not in the room. The vast majority of “facts” that Alford cites are from studies conducted by people who are not present to be questioned, but he gets to enter that testimony nonetheless.
A senate hearing is not a meet and greet where you get to bask in the glory of like-minded thinkers who pat you on the back and let you in their club because you say what they like to hear. It’s serious business. Those who elect to testify (his appearance was voluntary) better be prepared to make their case with the facts or expect to be chewed up. It’s the big time. Step up.
July 17th, 2009 at 12:35 pmDid anyone actually READ his testimony? He does not claim to speak for the entire “Black Community”. He used that phrase when he said that when the economy goes south, the Black Community suffers hard, which is true. He ties his objection to Cap & Trade to his belief that it will harm the economy and impact small and minority-owned businesses. He claims to have an understanding of these business, which I would assume is correct, as he is CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce.
Boxer’s response was pathetic, regardless of your position on his opinion on Cap & Trade. The NAACP resolution simply states that the NAACP would like to see a clean energy bill and wants to fight climate change. It has no comment on the economic impact of the proposed legislation, nor are black businesses nor the Black Chamber of Commerce bound by that resolution to do anything. She was trying to blunt an actual substantive objection with nothing more than a resolution that calls for Congress to do “something”. It’s not an appropriate response to his testimony.
Finally, the Exxon-Mobile connection is also irrelevant to the discussion of Boxer’s comments and their meaning, and it’s irrelevant to whether or not the guy was actually offended. It’s possibly relevant to his testimony, but not to the exchange between them. But why deal with the issue rationally, when we can tar and feather someone with an appeal to emotion?
July 17th, 2009 at 12:57 pm>>while ignoring the input of the Afrimerican that was present as if he was a non-entitiy
And you can tell that from the very short clips excerpted from the hearing?
??when in fact his presence was more apropo to the hearing, and hearing procedure, because it is the voice and action of those present that are used to make the decision.
Actually, written comments are also taken into consideration for such deliberations – I used to write some of them for the big NYC banks.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:07 pm“Barbara kinda got caught there. She was dead in the water and she was scrambling for some solid ground but didn’t find any. She was clearly being racist and was called on it. She didn’t know how to manage it and that was clear…he really called her on the carpet and was pretty cool in doing it. She being the big Senator and all did not scare him.”
Did we watch the same video?
July 17th, 2009 at 1:30 pmPatrick, the point is that he was the one who injected race into the debate, via his prepared remarks and the name of his organization. For him to call her on it is disingenuous at best. that’s all. The merits of her response beyond that is not relevant to this part of the debate.
July 17th, 2009 at 1:35 pmHe hit the nail on the head, and called Boxer exactly what she is – a racist. Thanks for your time.
July 17th, 2009 at 2:18 pmCarl, if the NAACP statement was more than just a generic call for action on climate change, if it was a policy document endorsing Cap & Trade and saying that black businesses would benefit from it, then it would be relevant. The NAACP resolution is not that. Boxer seems to be using it to say that since these other black people agree with me, your opinion doesn’t matter. She was not going after his analysis of the bill, she was essentially using his race as a way to blunt his criticism without actually addressing it. That’s actually kinda racist. Just from watching it, I think Boxer sounded condescending. I would like to see the entire exchange, however.
July 17th, 2009 at 4:06 pmThankfully she didn’t verbally tear him down for simply calling her Madam chair versus Senator. One should note too that history does indicate that the Repulican Party was founded by abolitionists in 1854. Abolitionists is a big word. People should look it up.
July 17th, 2009 at 6:08 pmI can’t believe most of the comments here. As an african american, let me start by saying there was nothing wrong with Boxer citing the NAACP’s study on climate change.
This Alford idiot is a disgrace to all black folks. This uncle Tom idiot is one of the reasons undercover racism is still alive in this country. They can’t debate on the real issues so they play the race card.
While i understand racism is still strong and alive in this country, I sure hope decent white folks dont extrapolate this kind of behavior across the black community.
July 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pmWhy is funding only an issue when it’s an opponent who takes the money?
The $350,000 allegedly given to the Black Chamber of Commerce is a pittance compared to the BILLIONS given to scientists and politicians who support Global Warming Legislation. How much campaign money was Barbara Boxer given from environmental organizations to support Cap and Trade? In full disclosure, shouldn’t that have been revealed as well?
Pointing out the funding from Exxon Mobil is a textbook Ad Hominem attack, and it erodes the credibility of this site.
July 18th, 2009 at 9:33 amIt seems clear that Boxer was trying to box him in and he refused to be boxed in. The fact that he called what she was doing racial seems like an accurate characterization–she was saying that other black groups had a different position that he was explaining–what was the relevance of doing that during his testimony except to say that a more well known black group disagreed with him and he should reconsider his position? It should have been done before or after. She showed no respect for him, talking over him and basically as others have said, treating him as if here were not there. Ignoring someone is the height of disrespect and discrimination; it can’t get worse than that.
Mr. Alford was not spoiling for a fight. Just try taking a politically unpopular position in this country and see for yourself how much venom and hate spew forth from the majority folks.
Lastly, the fact that there are many scientists, and top notch ones at that, who take the position that global warming cannot be altered much by whatever humans do and others question whether we are now in such a warming period. I think the Senate should have scientists with different views and research to back them up testify together on a panel. We do this in scientific conferences all the time–a good debate by people with knowledge can make progress-both in understanding the situation and in thinking about what needs to be done.
Lastly, any person, republican, democrat, etc, should get be a conserver of our planet’s resources regardless of climate changes. Humans are going to overwhelm the planet and all that we can do to conserve and leave small footprints is needed. Don’t think that people who question manmade global warming cannibalize the environment; they do not. I am fairly middle of the road and meet lots of people; I have met too many people on both sides of the climate issue who tramp through their lives with no thought for the future of the planet, animals, and future generations of human beings.
July 18th, 2009 at 4:31 pmWhy should the NAACP have been mentioned at all, unfortunately too many African Americans keep pushing the NAACP. as bringing equality to a group of Americans, who happen to have come from Africa either from slave ancestors, or as immigrants by choice after slavery ended. Then, when Black commentors make a bid deal about Racism, that only extends the Racist feelings of non African Americans of any ethnicity.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:37 pmUntil we all become Just Americans, without any hypen, we will have racism. I would hope that someday, we would all be equals without any qualification of ancestry, but education and behavior in the community. There is no reason why any citizen of any ethnicity should have an advantage over anyone else. Stop claiming you deserve special benefits or rights because of what happened to your ancestors.
My ancestors were those abolitionists, who tried to end Racism, and end slavery by hiding and transporting those slaves from the south to Indiana. Now show America that you are equal to any other American by your behavour.
Mr. Alford, thank you, and you’re so right. Saw you on O’Reiley tonight – great – refreshing… and, I’m purple. It’s great to hear from AN American who gets it. Thank you again.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:49 pmMr. Alford;
July 20th, 2009 at 9:15 pmSaw you on O’reilly this evening. I am a proud white man but was equally proud of the way you handled yourself. Also noticed that she (Boxer) failed to stop you from calling her maam! Good job!
Larry Borgard, a fan in Yuma, AZ
lborgard@roadrunner.com, Yuma, AZ
Mr. Alford;
July 20th, 2009 at 9:19 pmVery proud of the way you handled yourself at the enery hearing with the boxer. She has always been a snake in the grass and you got by with calling her maam without her yelling at you. GOOD JOB!, Keep it up!
A short time ago Senator Boxer (she likes that title better than a respectful “Ma-am”) pulled rank on a US Army General, but that’s another story about a very insecure and immature senator.
Once again Senator Boxer shows her true colors: little rich girl who respects nobody but those who agree with her, and only uses people/organizations for her own good/advancement. I believe her comments to Mr. Alford clearly showed her to be a racist, something she likes to hide I am sure.
Boxer is out of touch with most Americans. Truth to tell, I doubt she’d have anything to do with 99.9% of Americans, yet she claims to be so interested in the lives of those less fortunate than she is! Not!
Because she is so rich, I don’t believe she’ll have to put up with most of the laws/causes she supports! If she had to live like other American’s, I am sure we’d see a 180 degree change in her direction towards laws, climate change, etc…
Mr. Alford did what more American’s should do. Go with the facts, ignore most of the “good feeling” things our elected officials want to sell us and spend money on (now that we’re broke) and start talking back to and holding senators and congressmen/women responsible for what they say/do (or are not doing)! They work for us!
LibDems, like Boxer, seem to like to keep Blacks and other groups under their thumbs, so they don’t ask questions about what’s going on, but LibDems certainly want them to be there to vote the straight party line… no matter how much it ends up hurting members of the group.
Isn’t it a bit disconcerning when a politican assumes that everyone from one group always votes one way? We should be dealing with facts, not race. For the rest of the story on this issue, please visit Barbara Howard’s site: http://www.rwnetwork.net/Barbara_Howard
It is time that we vote out all those politicians, such as Boxer, who don’t truly have America and Americans’ interests as their #1 priority!
July 20th, 2009 at 10:32 pmI applaud Mr. Alford for speaking the truth.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:40 pmThanks you sir.
Speaking as a black female, I took offense at the fact that she would mention the NAACP to this black man as if by the mere mention of that organization, he would somehow change his mind. Listen everybody; we don’t all bow down and worship at the altar of the NAACP. It means nothing that they passed a resolution…I ask Mr. Alford’s question again…”What does that mean?” To make matters worse, she couldn’t just stop there; she has to go on and throw another black organization in his face so that he would know “his place”. If she had mentioned these organizations while addressing another one of the panelists – fine. However, she specifically confronted this man with that information in order to silence him. It was wrong of her.
So what if his group accepted money from Exxon? Let’s look over all of the issues that the senator supports and then we will examine who her contributors are.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:25 amI’m not black, and I have no dog in this fight. But, someone should consider that the guy was offended because Boxer presented the argument that because Alford is black, he MUST think and act like all the other blacks.
The man has his own brain, and can formulate his own opinions – right or wrong.
No one assumes that all white people think alike on an issue.
I’d have been offended, too.
July 21st, 2009 at 7:54 amMr. Alford is a courageous man and wonderful American. He was right-on in his response to the curt and condescending female Senator from California. We need more spokespersons like him standing firm against this rush of evil, decadent thinking now sweeping our land. I salute Mr. Alford for his service and his true American Grit.
July 21st, 2009 at 9:43 amIt was a joy to watch Mr. Alford with ma’m boxer…she treats good people like dirt with her arrogance…hey, everyone did you notice that she did not shame Mr. Alford on national tv for not calling her senator as she did General Walsh? She owes both General Walsh and Mr. Alford an apology on national tv for her nasty behavior! and americans consider themselves nice to call her ma’m after watching her treat other Ameicans like dirt!
July 21st, 2009 at 1:58 pmThis actually proves yet again that “Maam” Barbara Boxer thinks that color is a defining factor to prove a point. Just because one (or most) Blacks think one way how dare somebody who is also Black think other way.
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm