OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The Congressional Black Caucus is drawing the ire of a black female GOP congressional candidate after the group tossed its support to her white Democratic male opponent.
“It’s the American people versus the DC politicians and lobbyists,” Air Force veteran Jennifer-Ruth Green, who is looking to become the first black female Republican elected to Congress, told Fox News Digital in a statement.
The CBC has given $5,000 to her white male opponent, Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.), instead.
“I’m with the American people. The Congressional Black Caucus is with the politicians and lobbyists, and their career politician ally Frank Mrvan. America’s poorest communities are proof Frank Mrvan and the CBC care more about power and helping themselves than helping the people of northwest Indiana. It’s sad,” she added, according to the outlet.
Green noted further that all Americans, regardless of party, race, or gender, are “suffering under the failed policies of Washington politicians.”
Just who does the "Black Caucus" represent ? They don't Truly Represent Black Americans because democrat policies & actions actually hurts Blacks
Black GOP congressional candidate slams Black Caucus for backing her White male Dem opponent https://t.co/2ZBLT8YsjW #FoxNews— Birdman59 (@Lessweforget57) October 20, 2022
For its part, the CBC defended its decision to support Mrvan, though he’s white, over his black female challenger.
“The Congressional Black Caucus PAC is committed to electing African-Americans and African-American allies to Congress who will fight for our values,” the Congressional Black Caucus PAC said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Congressman Mrvan understands the importance of a woman’s right to choose and protect access to healthcare for all people. One of his first votes in Congress was for the American Rescue Plan which helped end this pandemic, put workers back on the job, and shored up the kinds of small businesses that are the backbone of the Black community.
“We support him because we know he will continue to fight against racial and economic injustice and ensure Northwest Indiana is able to continue to grow and thrive,” the statement continued.
The caucus’ main focus, according to its website, is a commitment to “using the full Constitutional power, statutory authority, and financial resources of the federal government to ensure that African Americans and other marginalized communities in the United States have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”
Fox News noted further:
Earlier this month, prominent conservatives rallied around Green after she was outed as a victim of sexual assault by Politico despite several pleas from the Republican candidate for the outlet to refrain from publishing the information.
“The reality of it is – like I said at one point in my life to my assailant, ‘No. Please stop. Don’t.’ – and he did what he wanted to do…This is the exact same situation all over again, all because there was a man who wanted some sort of gratification,” Green told Fox News in an interview following the publication of the private information by Politico reporter Adam Wren.
“Congressman Frank Mrvan gets his gratification of trying to think he’s smearing my name. Adam Wren gets his gratification of thinking he’s going to get a good smear story out of it. And all it does is essentially reopen wounds for victims,” she said.
The CBC has made political decisions in the past regarding membership in the organization. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who is black, was denied membership in the organization.
“The Congressional Black Caucus has a stated commitment to ensuring Black Americans have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream,” the Naples Republican said in a statement to Florida Politics last year.
“As a newly elected Black Member of Congress, my political party should not exempt me from a seat at the table dedicated to achieving this goal. As a young Black man who grew up in the inner city of Brooklyn in a single-parent household, my achieving of the American Dream would be a valued addition to the CBC and one that should transcend politics,” he added.
In a statement to The Hill at the time, the CBC said it “remains committed to fighting for issues that support Black communities, including the police accountability bill, protecting voting rights, and a jobs bill that helps our communities.”
