Color-Blind Corruption

Dallas area Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson has found herself the subject of national media attention, as she tries to explain away, rationalize, backfill and generally move as fast as possible away from corruption so obvious that even Anderson Cooper of CNN gets it.

The Congressional Black Caucus, of which Johnson is a member, allocates scholarship money to each member to be distributed to deserving students in the member’s district. Johnson directed the money to her grandchildren, violating the rules of the CBC Foundation, both because they were her grandchildren and because they (or at least certain of them who received the funds) did not live in her Congressional District.

Johnson’s behavior is an American ‘teachable moment’; a chance to advance the cause of color-blind justice in the face of color-blind corruption. In an era where the race card is wearing out from overuse, and bogus racial stereotypes are being perpetuated by the media, Johnson’s case can help bury them.

Americans know there is no need for a written law or rule to tell us that there is an ethical issue involved whenever we have authority to dispense other people’s money for a specified purpose, and we do so by directing it to a family member or relative. Depending on the criteria by which the money is to be given away, it’s of course possible that a family member or relative could qualify. But the recognition of the ethical dimension of the issue is something we know instinctively. Doesn’t matter what our skin color or gender is—we just know. Call it a function of ‘the content of our character’. But of course Johnson’s case takes it to another level, where there were in fact written rules making her family members ineligible on two separate grounds. Apparently in obtaining the funds, the family members themselves had to personally sign forms attesting to the fact that they were not family members of Johnson and did live in Johnson’s district—i.e., to lie.

Johnson has dealt with the scandal by taking the traditional politician’s path—“I made a mistake; the rules were ambiguous; I’ve paid it back from my own funds; my staff screwed up; I’m going to move on.” But of course, the rules were not even remotely ambiguous, and the only ‘mistake’ was the traditional politician’s definition of a mistake: ‘I got caught’.

The fact is, Johnson’s abuse of the public trust is about as brazen and easy to understand as anything that comes out of the Washington incumbency cesspool. And these are circumstances that set up a wonderful opportunity to bury the race card and insidious racial stereotypes, or at least shovel a whole lot of dirt on them.

One common use of the race card would be: Johnson is black and her grandchildren are black; she’s only trying to help them, so lay off. Only problem: Johnson’s District is predominantly black, and at least one black student has surfaced (and there are likely others) who applied for scholarship funds through Johnson’s office but was turned away.

Another aspect of a typical race card play: Johnson is black, so for that reason alone, just cut her some slack. White Congressman do it, too. Only problem: her opponent in the November 2nd election, Pastor Stephen Broden, is also black, and he doesn’t think cutting her some slack is appropriate, and he thinks the people of the District feel the same way.

Which brings us to perhaps the most vicious racial stereotype that needs to be blown up once and for all—and that is the stereotype that Democrats generally, and blacks specifically, don’t care about corruption. The stereotype is that in a predominantly black Congressional District, if the Democrat candidate is black, mark him or her down as a shoo-in.

This sets the stage for a November election in Johnson’s District that can mark a major step forward and away from lockstep race-based thinking. Is there really something about the color of our skin that makes us tolerant of lying and stealing, and abusing the public trust? We think Johnson will find out in November—the answer is no.

Paul Gable

September 3, 2010