DC Insider's Journal

News, Analysis,  Commentary, & Ramblings.


by Gem P. Daus, Director of Policy
January 3 to 7 , 2005

Happy New Year everyone!  Welcome to the first installment of my insider's journal of DC politics.  "Insider" is my publicist's idea.  In a later column I'll let you know just how not far inside I really am, but for today, I'm sorry to say that we're off to a somber start here in DC.  On the heels of the tsunami tragedy, we have the deaths of Representative Robert Matsui (D-CA 5th)* and former Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY)* on New Year's Day. 

Matsui would have begun his 14th term in Congress this week, but he died before even being sworn in, so he'll never officially be listed as part of the 109th Congress.   By all accounts he served Sacramento (his district) well, but he was equally diligent in serving the nation.  His colleagues consistently describe him with words like intellectual, integrity, honesty, and passion.  He won his last election with 75% of the vote.  He was 63.

Chisholm became the first African American woman elected to Congress in 1968 and served for 7 terms (the first Asian American woman was Patsy Mink, who died in September 2002).  I wasn't around during her stint, but I know she's been described as feisty, frank and fearless.  She represented the concerns of blacks and women.  But she defied them, too.  She could make up her own mind and didn't feel the need to just go along with the pack.  She even ran for President.  She was 80.  

Matsui too had an independent streak.  During an interview with NPR, John Tateishi, national president of JACL, said that Matsui "was an American first," meaning he wasn't only Japanese American.  Tateishi admitted having many heated arguments with Matsui, presumably because Matsui did not want to be bound by whatever the "Asian American agenda" was at the time.  Of course, he did come through on redress for Japanese Americans interned during World War II.  But his claim to fame was his expertise on Social Security, international trade, and children's health--areas in which hardly an Asian American advocacy organization exists.  It's probably biased to call him "independent."  Perhaps, he was just doing what he thought was right.

It reminds me how much we expect from "our" electeds, to bear the burden race, to speak for "us".  It's probably unreasonable...at the least unrealistic.  I sympathize with the position Matsui and other minority politicians are in.  But politics demands quid quo pro--you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours.  You vote for me, and I'll work your issue.  For better or for worse, a politician's time and energy is often devoted to pleasing his fans.  Matsui did that, but he also stuck to his principles knowing he would take the heat.  But he got respect and admiration too.      

A politician's death is a weird time here in DC.  When you're a public figure, the grieving is public too.  Decorum, not to mention decency, demands that politicians put aside their party differences to honor the life and work of one of their own.  (Still, a little bit of partisanship came through when more than one Democrat lamented the loss of their leader and expert on Social Security.  The Republicans let it be--but then they aren't all behind Bush's plan either.)  

The weirdness comes from watching politicians restrain themselves.  Congressmen line up for the chance to say how much they knew the deceased and how much he'll be missed.  Airtime is like gold to politicians, no matter the occasion.  But as an advocate, you learn to suspect everything you hear a politician say.  And so it is with some effort that I looked for sincerity in their remarks.

But it is there.  The sincerity.  More than 50 Congressman rose on the first day of Congress (Tuesday) to state for the record how much Matsui did and what a loss he will be.  More than a few of them were Republicans, praising Matsui's ability to work across the aisle.*  But I like the way Democratic Senator Hilary Clinton (D-NY) put it when she spoke at his Congressional Memorial Service the next day.  She said:

He was a model of how to get important things done.  How to bridge the gaps that too often divide us.  And maybe we should in the months ahead in this new Congress honor his memory by invoking a Matsui moment from time to time.  When people are not seeking common ground, much less higher ground, we can call for a Matsui moment...spend some time relating to each other as human beings on a level that recognizes our common interests and hopes for this nation.

I'm not holding my breath that anyone in Congress will actually invoke a Matsui moment.  But I know we'll be asking for one.

Resources

There are many more inspirational and quotable moments from both the memorial service and the opening session of the House.  So I recommend reading House member's statements in the Congressional Record for January 4, 2005 at http://thomas.loc.gov/ starting on page H47; and watching the service at www.c-span.org (it aired on Jan 5; you'll need your box of tissues when Pelosi speaks and the camera catches a shot of Matsui's granddaughter Anna obliviously squirming away from her mother).

Matsui's website is still up at http://www.house.gov/matsui/

*De-jargonator
News Items
Upcoming Events

Continuing the initiative to build momentum on the APA Health platform, APIAHF President & CEO, Dr. Ho L. Tran, will be visiting local community organizations around the country. Last October she spoke with community-based groups of her hometown of Chicago, IL; this week she is scheduled to give reports in San Francisco and Seattle. These events are listed on the APIAHF events web page.

Next week: What's Congress and the Administration going to do this year?

For comments, suggestions, feedback, email Gem P. Daus at gdaus@apiahf.org

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