>> coming up next from the 2011 brooklyn and desolate discussion on politics with former new york congressman major owens, author of the peacock elite. this is just under an hour. >> welcome to the brooklyn book festival. this is our sixth year and i have to tell you it is one of our largest years ever, and they think because the weather is so beautiful outside people are staying outside instead of coming inside. so we thank you for being here. my name is carlo and i'm the chief of the staff. we are very excited to be talking politics tonight. i can't think of two better people that i would rather talk politics with on a sunday afternoon then congressman major owens and bob hart. i hope you all had a chance to read this book. if you haven't, you should buy it. you should read it and you

should get the congressmen to sign it does if you are a political junkie it is a really great look and if you are not a political junkie, you will become one after you read it. ..

>> also the author of the bucket which we will be talking about sa professor in brooklyn and to my right, again i am not sure her. [laughter] he is slowly becoming a true legend in the political media of world of their city government. executive producer and political director for new year quote one and his imprint is very strong so we thank you for being here today. what i will do is serve as a moderator and mc and if things get heated, i will try to control but i don't

think they will maybe you can do a little intro and the congress man we will hear your thoughts then make this a dialogue. >> thank you so much pro i thought i had known a fair amount about you, congressmen but i learned a lot more when i read your book. one fingerprint 34 today is when you moved to new york city from tennessee coming after you graduated from morehouse coming you started to work at the brooklyn public library and an aspiring novelist and playwright. i did not know that so i thought today was extremely inappropriate to have you here. you told me before the were still working on a novel and i am looking forward to the year cahal next year to talk

about your novel rather than "the peacock elite" the first eddie of the congressional black caucus that you are a member of 24 years when you were serving in washington. but you never quite come out to say what "the peacock elite" is but i think at times it is positive and other times in negative but who are "the peacock elite" with the congressional black caucus and why is it sometimes good and bad? >> thank you very much for the introduction and also for having read the book. [laughter] i just want to say the previous panel that was year had a roomful of people and they were talking about

poetry and music and politics. very interesting. they had the a big audience that if you have something with pop culture you have a bigger audience than the politicians going from a congress down to the city council member have learned the code of pop culture and then it does that matter what it is known for. the high name recognition for those who don't respond differently.

the for their particular cause us it is highly visible so much of that pop culture style and freedom is infecting politics to the vast majority who are just being peacocks to emphasize their style and not doing their homework the worst part is there should be some balance. maybe i was not enough of the peacock but i talk about the balance approach but they go overboard with tremendous amounts of literature that is never written with good legislation and the

mobilization done by members of congress behind the scenes to make it happen is not there. we talk about and we're upset a great deal of people who have power and influence combine the billionaires 501,500 people who have the percentage of wealth in america and we are upset about that also to influence democracy but michael moore the other day said it quite simple we outnumber them we are more than 150 million. the rich and powerful only have one vote to we outnumber them and only if we let them push us into a situation to dominate the thinking to brainwash the

population because they have the media at -- money to do that to the media but to talk about this generation to guarantee democracy we don't have to go that far. but slightly necessary to be much more active in their own political brain-dead to make it work. but americans are too lazy and take a lot for granted and those tea party people who show us what a small group can do when they become very active. for the black caucus should have that accountability and my emphasis in the book and meyer approach was what i've learned in the black caucus is something i would like to

see carried over we need more like that. menaces said it should be defended on groups and forces against each other with eight peaceful gesturing but the one group that we run over. so what i say about the black caucus is they accomplished a great deal. my book also praises them which they don't get to enough of. the officials do not get crazy enough for what they do good and also the recommendation how they operate in the future to do a better job. so they need to streamline in the operation in.

but it that is without a different kind of set up operations and back to be applied to the new york state caucus. they have regions in each stage is a big state like california or texas, they have their own caucus. new york is a caucus all the democratic and recognize regional caucuses. in terms of solidarity moving together to produce results. there's a lot of peacock with the new york delegation and the black congressmen are on the spot because it lacks society we don't have those types of institutions putting people into line that makes it more difficult

situation. >> you pointed out the power of the caucus founded 197113 members. you trace the history while you were there very well and did just touched on something you wrote about in the book to read back to you in the audience to reflect on that what you meant because it was very critical and you wrote one of the causes of the abominable state of black america is predatory leadership than the one to write the pinnacle of power in washington and the congressional black caucus has plundered too often despite the highly visible triumphs, it is mutation tv failed to systematically accumulate power is consistent with its potential. what has the cbc not dead you think it should moving forward?

>> we have to talk about that the first of blunders? major blunders have taken place not keeping the eye on matters that affect the black population and ronald reagan slashed the budget there was not much of a fight from the cbc. there was divisions of interest when of the good things we did was to break up the major functions functions, al-fayed was housing, a brain trust education and and welfare. as any congressmen you

cannot know deeply what goes on with all of those things that is why we have relied on each other and the man who happen to be in charge of welfare with the seniors ways and means committee but to have a welfare program is the reason for that to put it on the place with the least amount of sympathy. he was the subcommittee chairmen said he was our welfare brain trust% with the gingrich drive to demonize the welfare people that clinton fell into because we thought it was necessary he announced the caucus would stand firm this is a job-training program if

they have jobs that day $8 an hour then he disappeared and did not come to any warwick caucus meetings we never got a report from him clinton was ready to cave and he did this by the caucus. >> host: it never did anything? there was direct favors with something about not having a banking loan and was put on trial but we help to pay off that debt to but he betrayed us and the welfare population. he made a big deal where farmers continue to get huge subsidies and all kinds of

subsidies not being discussed. that demonization works a great deal that is not having the leadership to follow-up on that led to kitchenette embarrass of bush administration and republicans in general they actually turn to the black caucus to say you take the responsibility. they give us the opportunity to come up with program my last year as a lame duck but we did not do it. i guess i was ignored as the zero lame-duck and i put on the table a program to create jobs in the louisiana

to keep the population there to save what we have lost. the black power base they would never have that power again but this is lost. coming up with a program but we didn't. the task force came up with a statement president bush had a plan to end poverty in 10 years to use katrina as an example a and a model. giving that 10 house to the fox. >> talking about republicans during your time with of the congressional black caucus the audience would be

interested to know is there black republicans in what was the relationship? >> i believe there were six black republicans elected over the course of history. >> only one of while i was there. committed to represent i forget his last name but his name was gary. he did not last long and was defeated but several others. >> but the congress manor watts decided not to join? >> guest: i and a stand they have one now. said in a gang of the senator broke from massachusetts in republican

he drops by once a month or so. >> you had a couple of white congress man who wanted to join a the carcass. >> they did as the population shifted, there was a cry that it but in the situation is such they are not encouraged but at one blige we had a way to identify with those and the progressive caucus came on strong then there was no demand anymore because blacks and whites joined to work together with the progressive caucus. >> host: talk about when newt gingrich took over you have a brief description

that he had a style, although bit of everything when he came. he talked about how he tried to do decertify or to away with the carcass. what exactly happened when newt gingrich to go over with the cbc? >> he saw that as the threat, to strong and also the blue dog polish gen coming on. >> the blue dog coalition is conservative democrats to create their own counter group to counter the cbc? >> not just the other primary concern with the people bled to they made a alliance with the military industrial complex because they are a small group of me 32 congressional districts in the country.

but they get a huge sum of money $100 billion appropriation one year at the same time welfare only does 16 billion and welfare has many more people the amount of money paid to farmers the maximum was $360,000. for a family of four they got 6,000 in the most generous state but they demonize sofer and it is the most but at that time the most highly subsidized 60. >> and. >> there was a democratic

focus funded with the public funds, and the study group and all kinds of groups that were phased out under newt gingrich but particularly was to get rid of the black caucus and that opposition and not smart enough that in a backhand kind of way you will never take back the house so wider in think about coming to our side? >> one of the problem is that i have now been delayed is going now, i may have to swing in 10 years to be on the right to practice is that bad?

but there were so many there reciprocated coming into the caucus wanted school and a very in june, i am not dedicated and they will sell out. of the people that i call the predator peacocks what about congress lives in a bid for tennessee? he is in new york city but 2.5 billion dollars per year. stake sarah up and other members know they to go another direction and after retired they work as a lobbyist which is a different ball game and a dangerous because without

newspapers or radio stations our television stations are criticized and can get away with a lot of things and you have them switching. >> you talk overall how the cbc is one of do allegis to states. >> are there any other issues? there are to meet internally there was a pay o for eight days a big debate how we go? buckling war on terror drying up the memo scum i will s -- have a woman's

caucus but some but some members advocates for the military-industrial complex in represent districts that had and those people are poor but at the same time, the votes don't reflect that every time there is an issue of ladies in the military with the industrial complex they vote for it but there is a contradiction. can i come out with a strong black caucus budget unless you show where you get the nonmilitary programs. over the years the criticism by the black caucus has less than and when and charge

about military brain trust trust, we were very critical of the industrial complex even on the committee he presented what the committee brought to him then he voted against his own committee but when he left a couple of members to come from districts the majority population the interest is with the military industrial complex to make sure they get to the nation's they're there for a long time unless we have critical forces to put them on the spot. lee scott and virginia, morehouse graduate

have areas of high a military a concentration and they look at that first before anything else. >> i wanted to ask what education here in new york and has seen the pendulum swaying both ways back to where we have a have the centralized system run by city hall. this one model work better should the school system the centralized line top down? or does that motto not work? >> i have been involved in education new york city for most of my adult and political life certain they when i was a commissioner the promise it was education in. when i went to state legislature i was assured to

so i am concerned and very active there is a question except what does not work is control. not just top-level that as a person but when the orders come from the top this you don't care for democracy the contemporary elected officials and they also close out the elective official tata and you got

some great ideas thin trading that goes on the industry in general but overall being able to improve the education of children because of the parents and members and community. but does not try to micromanage. >> i think i want to open to questions with the last 20 minutes. i will start by asking both of you we had a very congressional race but we were not surprised with the results but then three will

go to the audience a. >> on the one hand as i think more about it i'm not saying that alone ed koch has that much power but combining it with guiliani with double negative they have done a great deal to do divide and conquer he made said that -- division people shopping have not helped because they play the game to make it impossible that

the blacks did not trust the progresses' to take strong opposition's an immediate of course, has chosen to champion the colorful blacks shopping always gets the headlines and the media including the near times you do not hear about the movement but those running against her the district attorney in the history of new york state to challenge a police brutality case and she championed the cause but at and all of the black

leaders were left come of those that were the leaders they always ignore the traditions in the city. what was the question again? >> [inaudible] >> but ed koch and guiliani also like to see the minority they threw in a same-sex marriage issue what is the possible impact of the same-sex marriages orthodox jews beyond our

concern to make gabbana pay of think it was quite that simple. >> island and the district it is interesting to look at the boats but almost a reagan democrat district majority white catholic orthodox jew as well wending at 55/45 but if you go to the brooklyn side manhattan beach a little bit of coney island and overwhelmingly 70/thirties who says

second-largest democratic county the small pocket of brookline and is very interesting. some issues are brought up with gay marriage with the orthodox community was a very strong turnout is some of those neighborhoods if you look at how turner in anthony wiener did one year ago, he barely won that section of brooklyn the more interesting story is to talk to people to find out what is going on because it is definitely different than the rest of the district. >> it is interesting looking in brooklyn voting against

the congressmen almost as a staunch republican couple met you almost see a trend and the roman catholic and jewish voters coming together the questions from the audience of a will walk around with a microphone. >> this is not fair for me to have the first question in but i do when to hear his response what the cbc is doing today in the context of the obama presidency? aides to j.k. stand and where do you think from the work force side?

>> i tried to avoid using names. >> his mri's is overdue in the year at -- has now been here and the previous chairman but the only one of them uploaded a chance of the she is a person headed on a task force of katrina to end by saying. >> i am spurious about that part of that kind of neglect of homework is partially what is happening with

obama. and being very unfriendly toward blacks to 76 you looked at the caucus with contempt per from if he had to arrange meetings with the obama. >> some of issue for aniston's -- but jim cliburn was the of permit and the strongest with the majority whip with the christian views for the whole democratic party. he is a great politician and

he enjoyed having power directly with the president himself now i know this is being recorded i will get to it in trouble but i stand by my words. >> found yourself in trouble [laughter] i heard you speak what you feel obama has been done positively and speak in positive terms but i have not heard you address the concerns i would have a of their policy toward the israel be a movie s and the commitment -- the

continuation and attitudes of the liberties and i would like to hear you speak about your critique of this presidency. >> as you heard me he has been a magnet dissent president doing a terrific job and very few presidents even abraham lincoln and have had that type of rigorous the tax even harry truman did not have to put up with that constant bombardment the media not help baying at all for under ways to undercut all politicians have things they

have flaws. and clear flaws to be pinpointed he fell into a trap of copper negative when i heard rahm emanuel would be there i am not surprised the friendship with the republican party is four days by the betty i think he has learned the hard way although they made it clear it does not matter what he does he would not cooperate sell now in the first quarter he has finally come out he just fills in some of the gaps. doing a lousy job in

education and to trust people and out sharpton becoming the spokesperson in for black people, those types of blunders are ridiculous. with a race to the top movie and two solely to ignore the wisdom accumulating over the years from those professional educators to take that bloomberg approach people can do a bit -- better job but on the housing french there is a great deal of the year there. do you know, new york state that they passed a lot to say you can freeze for closures and it passed? the challenge 70 your state court and the supreme court upheld it that the government has the power to freeze foreclosures because

it is so involved with the mortgages that is still lying there with their president administration using very little power to do with this situation but on farm policy? we may differ. [laughter] too mini times we let it take place then after words we regret it but to take vigorous action to than call a warm longer so i don't agree again as a fanatic who said i will slaughter the people and announced it to i saw the slaughter take place in haiti for a couple years. people lying dead in the street and we were reluctant to do anything about it. that is one of the great

triumphs of the blackrock is. we have one who was three reluctant and two-thirds of the people were not in favor but we went in with troops to say it is not an invasion. in a supervised election and then said you will take him back in then in a couple of years the people will not support the -- supports the army and they know that they just throw the uniforms in to the bush and run. not a single 22,000 soldiers of america went into haiti for pro you did not need that many but not one seeing gold casualty. in the haitian army 600 noncommissioned officers.

when i arrived in the police state, it was a great moment of the black caucus and we got arrested and sat in front of the white house to get arrested. but you don't know about it because the media it ignores it. but i do think that libya the way we have behaved is better than having anything on our conscience. >> we have about five minutes left so we will take this question and one more. >> a couple questions it has

impacted saying this negativity, the other in this what is the way to get people out there it does not have all of this control and to be involved in the other activist groups what to do to get more positive media attention the way that congress was up to last year? >> what do we do? the well placed action would be very useful and to try

york two green the progressive committed the together to do split apart two halves of forceful action and son of a direct actions with you did the and they could not ignore. if we have the wall street job search everyday to send it to coming just hang around, you would not be ignored. so there is enough people to get attention and if you have a situation where you have traffic stoppages all

over the city, in if he says to go back to him the board of education that operates schools and we want parents to be included to want to block traffic. there is no police force. there is all kinds of ways to play with nonviolence to work out to a nine by lenders handbook of things that can be done but nonviolent day. but to get out of hand, if

you have riots it does not go like that forever. but then it gets out of hand when you push people so far. we don't want that to happen so we have to stop being lazy and smug to use our democratic constitution in a non-violent way to create the situation where we have to act in a more positive way. >> last question. >> this is multi tiered i know the police brutality case of the laws of this

month's around paying hurt plays but the other two questions would be president obama i did not allow a delegation to go to the international conference on and racism bush said even though he is a conservative and allegedly they will veto out of hand the palestinian state meeting obama. could you address in relation to obama and where the cbc stands? >> the police brutality case that remember specifically which one at the time. but elizabeth conducted an investigation and upset the police and new york and they

did rally around her office as a result but i cite that clearly but not just that the one highly dramatized issue but yet to when she ran for the senate, votes for her were undercut greatly and renew the couldn't win. when you have blacks attracted coming he was just played up by the media and for those who were endorsing them but with the media but every stop and it has swayed

our population the other issues are complicated in terms of the situation but no matter what we do, in united nations which it is not an issue to put on his stable but they will have to decide if this country is isolated and i don't know house we can deal with it.

i have no idea. i am sorry. >> we will wrap it up. congressmen zero with thank you for a great presentation and a great book you can beat him downstairs to sign books bob. >> i have no book to sign. >> but you should take a few minutes to talk to him about politics because it is very fascinating. >> mccann i make a closing statement? >> we have a few more even. >> on a humorous note to, i said at the beginning the previous ban all with

commentators politics is a serious issue. but let me close with a portion a and it is soboba of that now one of those that i wrote from the congressional record was a form of the meeting that took place and is that how to cut the budget? could danger is the same danger then as now and with good grades white d.c. legend and the meeting of the mob which would they

rob? all of the interest may good deal because there is a weak team of the mob. [applause]

>> welcome to the 27th annual printer's row with best and they did to our sponsors. please to not yourself on and all other electronic devices. photographs are not permitted. we will be record date for future broadcast of c-span booktv. if there is time the 4q and a session we ask you to use the microphone so home viewing audience can hear your questions.

to check the schedule to see when the program will air ago to put to the.org. please welcome moderator karen and the author is wonderful to be here i drove here from cleveland where i am the review editor and i was delighted to be occupied with a complex subject and is engaging biographer. deborah baker seems lives that are complicated eliciting more questions than answers so that is your cup of tea you have walked into the right room.

because margaret is so complicated we will ask her to read for us. >> thank you for coming it is great to be in chicago i love the city so much and especially on a beautiful day but briefly, this is a letter that mariane wrote to her parents on board this ship taking her from brooklyn, new york to karachi pakistan there she would move again basically basically, this was the first of the letters from the new york public library which was my introduction to

margaret marcus. may, 1962 the torch. after all of the good guys to walk down the gangplank that was overcome by a profound sense of dread and stood for a long time complete the strict and the excitement of the week leading up to my departure gone in. when the ship finally pulled away the lights began to dim and echo the pounding of my hard. at black oceans slowly swallowing everything i had never known. it took some time then my prayer began to subside. she goes on to tell her period -- parents about the odd characters on board. there is a captain and the

greek crew who were very suspicious of her and a journey she was making to pakistan. where the you imagine a guy would need by nice dress for dining and dancing as if my passage to design a cruise ship other than a freighter i was happy to leave that behind along with my corset and the high heels that i gave twos a lady across the hall from me and then i found high neck long sleeved blouse. i see i cut the unlikely figure. anybody would ask why wouldn't say attractive flustered woman dresses and such a manner? i don't blame him. the captain tells me he just returned from turkey and took the best efforts to outlaw eight -- arrest muslims and has no problems

about fanatics as to when he met muslims or the year of 18 for core avoid others like the plague and happy to see it eradicated because it is home to many europeans showing me the rest was backward and reactionary betty on greek sailor, and you will see the power of the arabs when you get there >> a 27 year-old woman growth on long island throwing it all off just to with the launching for community and yesterday