REV. CLEAVER. Though Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is testing the waters regarding running for Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus… and though that would be a highly charged and deeply entertaining scenario for all involved, it will be Emanuel Cleaver by a mile. Probably more than a mile. The last few CBC chairs havee been notoriously bad regarding communications strategy. Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick hated the press. Period. And this was before Kwame’s troubles… Hopefully Emanuel Cleaver will do better at basic communications and getting the word out on basic things the CBC is doing. The basic strategy should be: If it’s good tell reporters, if it’s bad don’t tell reporters… You’d be surprised how tricky that seemingly basic concept has become under the control of members whp are perpetually afraid of the press for no reason in particular.
