>> live pictures from capitol hill where this morning african american pot -- republican leaders are holding a forum on the black community and the conservative movement. so we are expecting remarks from michael steele and former congressman j.c. watts. this will also discuss more ways to bring minorities to the republican party. allen west is a the host. we are apparently still a couple minutes away from the start. we will have that live when it gets underway in just one moment. until then, your phone calls from today's washington journal. host: how is your governor handling the economy in your

state? we want to hear from you this morning. your outlook from the economy going forward. it says that the biggest reason for slower growth is that the effects of the japanese earthquake will not last. she has been a guest here on c- span. slower growth will help keep unemployment at 8.4% or higher through the years and, economists predict. the good news? the risk of a u.s. recession is falling. they're calling it only a 22% probability in the next 12 months. europe's financial crisis will ship only 0.25% of the u.s. growth. more than 90% of the economists think that home prices have bottomed out or will by the end of this year. the federal reserve will not

raise interest rates until the second half of 2013. almost as many say it will be 2014 or later. job growth were slow. rising to 165,000. the economy produced an average of one under 30,000 new jobs a month late in the fourth quarter, driven by december's gain. that is the prediction. how is your governor handling the economy? susan, you are up first. democrat in michigan. caller: i was an independent, but because of the way our governor and republicans in washington, i will be emphatic and the voting straight democratic. my governor is terrible. he has raised the taxes on the pensions in michigan. anybody that is drawing a

pension has to pay taxes on it now. many of the people i know -- senior citizens have to keep the heat at 55 because they cannot afford the heat with the new taxes. he is now prepared to raise the gas tax by $0.90. he also wants to raise the price to get your car licensed 60%. he is getting ready probably to sign this bill. it is awful. he is taxing the middle class and the elderly any way he can. he is giving his money to the rich. to the people in business that will bring us jobs -- we have seen no jobs. host: here is a piece from "the wall street journal."

host: what is your reaction? caller: it is too late. we need jobs now. where i live, three factories closed. they produced jobs but now produce nothing. we need them tomorrow. we need these jobs tomorrow. host: what is the budget deficit like in your state? caller: he has gotten it down. he has done that. i will give him that, but at the cost of schools.

he has cut schoolteachers pay by 10% or 15%. they are not going to the restaurants in town because they cannot afford it. they're not doing things they did do so it hurts small business. host: what is the tax situation like? caller: is going to cost $900 for every senior citizen who drives -- who draws a pension. that is what i heard on the news the other day. we're going to have to come up with that money because it did not come out of our pensions. we're going to have to figure out where we are going to get the $900 to pay it. if we do not have it. it is wrong. yes, i understand. it is wrong to attack the vulnerable, the elderly, and the port. host: let me get another voice in here. what you think about o'malley's

budget? caller: i would give him right now a d-in terms of a letter grade. he has done nothing to promote any job growth or opportunities in the state since he has been in office. this is his second term. he has done nothing to significantly reduce the state spending levels. in fact, he has proposed increased spending for state police. he has proposed transferring the pension obligations back onto counties who are cash-strapped due to increases in tax revenues because of the housing crisis. i just do not think that our governor has done enough to bring state spending under control. and overall he is just not doing a very effective job. host: all right. this is from "the washington

times" this morning. caller: i do not necessarily have a problem with that. what that paper is not reporting is his other tax increases in terms of user fees, registration costs for registering your car, we have emissions testing is in some of our counties throughout the state. he has imposed those increases as well, where people are struggling to make ends meet. i just do not think he has done an overall good job in spending such as our former governor did in difficult economic times. host: what is your reaction to the following article? this article talking about his a busy schedule of trying to

unveil a budget. and also serving as the head of dga. caller: i think he has his eyes set on another prize, either becoming a senator or maybe even a run for the white house. i do not think his focus is on the state of maryland right now. i am disappointed in his performance. host: we will go to missouri, a democrat. caller: good morning. this is the first time i have talked to you. host: welcome to the conversation. what you think of your governor? caller: i think he is doing pretty good. he gave the state address the other night. he is bringing in jobs. he is working with people. he is bringing in auto parts to build -- i think they're getting a ford plant or something here. he is working with southwest

missouri and all over missouri. he balanced the budget without raising taxes. if the budget goes through, and i believe it will. he has done it without cutting aid to parents without autos -- to parents with autistic children. that happened a few years ago. my daughter testified on that for quite a while. her and a lot of other mothers because my grandson is autistic. actually, he is doing very well. there are some cuts i do not like. there has been a few to education, a little bit to education. but i think all states are having to do that. host: all states are having to make cuts and increase taxes? caller: i do not know about increasing taxes, because he did not increase taxes in misery. in a c-span junkie. -- i am a c-span junkie.

i watched the south carolina primary. they have high unemployment down there. to me, i do not believe that the employment situation is a altogether presidential situation. i think it's a gubernatorial. host: i was going to say -- what is your unemployment and misery? caller: it has been around 8%, but i think things are getting better all the time. in springfield they put in new highways. anybody who says they do not work, they are totally wrong. host: i will leave it there. this headline back on january 18. "christie calls for 10% cut in new jersey tax."

[video clip] >> in my budget, i will fulfill a promise i made in 2009. we will release the heavy income tax burden that has struggled to support families. i propose to reduce income tax rates for each and every new jersey and citizen by 10% across the board. [applause] i also propose to fully restore forfoearned income tax credit the poor which we work force to cut during 2010 when growth was gone and we had no money. understand what this means. every new jerseyian will get a cut in taxes. host: this is the "star ledger ."

host: that is out of new jersey. we covered that speech. go to c-span.org if you want to see it in its entirety. we will continue to air them as we bring them in and get them ready. patty, a republican in pittsburg, kansas.

caller: the same thing is happening in kansas with the governor here. i do not know when they met together in washington. and agreed of this, but the democrats and the republican governors seem to be doing the same thing. they are all cutting taxes for the wealthy and piling it on the poor people. i remember in 2001 when the senator here in kansas wanted a piece of land going clear across the whole state so that bill gray's could be getting his trucking business across the whole state. they are still at it. he has been convicted of fraud

with his campaign finance business. he had to pay it back. the piece of land that he wanted to gerrymander went clear over to district to where tim ryan was at the time and a bill graves wanted to be secretary of transportation, but too many calls were made to the president and said, no. you know, we put that down. we have put some other things down. now we need to put down that senator and put down the governor to understand that when he said we need jobs, jobs, jobs, here, that is exactly what he should have done. host: "the wall street journal"

has this headline -- "gingrich reshapes landscape." that is "the wall street journal" this morning. as far as the campaign, gop primary race -- here is what it looks like. >> you can see "washington journal" every morning live on c-span.

if we are on capitol hill with republican leaders looking at the black community, the conservative movement and how to bring more black people to it. former chairman michael steele and j.c. watts among others will be speaking. allen west is the host. he is addressing the group right now. >> he had a lot of excitement last week down in south carolina. now that excitement is coming to florida so i will take some notes from him. i think that the whole purpose for us being here today is how do we articulate and connect with conservative principles back to our community -- the african american community. i really believe that the core of the african american to be the truly is conservatism. we just have to be able to understand what that is. when we talk about those conservative principles and what we're going to discuss today --

limited government. understanding what effective and efficient limited government is that is physically responsible and constitutionally mandated. the rights and freedom of the individual and how it relates to them -- their responsibility and accountability. i think that we also have to understand there is a difference between equality of opportunity and equality of achievement for the individual -- and what does that mean? our free market system. that is what i have to tip my hat off to our colleague sam graves from misery for allowing us to be here in the committee on small business hearing room. if you remember, one of the great strengths of the black committee are small businesses. we need to look at how we get that empowerment back into the urban community. if you look at people like former congressman jack kemp, when they talk about urban

empowerment zones, we need to look at how to get that restored. our traditional cultural values. really, the core of who we are as african americans. faith, family, but let us not forget, security. a strong national defense. no matter how prosperous to make the people, you must make them safe. look at those principles. look at the situation in the black community today. we have unemployment close to 17% for black adult males 21 years of age. black teenagers are 41% unemployment. something has to be done. there has to be a way to tackle this problem. with that being said, i want to take the time to introduce a woman who is on the forefront of their of bringing conservative principles into the african- american community. she walked the walk. she talked the talk. she does it all. phase-in john, i read -- i present our -- ladies and

german, i present our moderator, star parker. [applause] >> thank you. i appreciate the opportunity to monitor this great paddle -- to moderate this great panel. i believe this is historic. in washington there often talking about grievances and government programs, but we are convening here to talk about freedom and opportunity. we convene here today to talk about black responsibility as well as black rights. this is, indeed, his store. let me thank congressman west. he is a hero. when you were here earlier, you came up to him and wanted your pictures, i know you agree with me to saying that he is a hero and a leader. not just for wearing our nation's uniform, but now he is

here in washington. we really appreciate it. perhaps the next time we see him, his neck step will be to become our nation's first black republican president. [applause] we admire you congressman wes. -- west. what a leader and inspiration you are. thank you. [applause] now, before i get started, i want to see the chief of staff -- is he still here? he would like to address congressman west as well for bringing this forum together. >> i just wanted to thank your

organization for having us here today. i would also like to reach out. i had a couple of former and current staffers from asia who was an intern for us and now she graduated law school. she came back to the capital. -- capitol. one of the things we are trying to do is get young blacks and opportunity in our office. i would ask for your assistance moving forward. i apologize for having to leave early, but i know others are going to stay here. thank you for your work. f >> thank you. thank you for those kind words. [applause] as congressman west just told us about the unemployment rate,

since your position just one out on c-span the you have positions available, i am sure you'll get a lot of applications. [laughter] this is a time when our country needs fixing and there is no group of americans better qualified to understand what is wrong in america and why it needs fixing than its black citizens. it is a mirror reflection of the moral and monetary reflection of our country. we as a nation are in a crisis. we are at a crossroads similar to the 1850's were we cannot go on half-free, half-enslaved. we must make a decision about who we're going to be if we're going to remain a biblical nation. there is no other ethnic group in america that has suffered more from the misuse of government, the misuse of politics and political power, off and has more to gain by restoring traditional values and individual responsibilities, free markets, limited government, and a strong

national allegiance than blacks. i think it is very appropriate and timely the congressman west would host this important forum at the beginning of 2012. again, i thank him. i am humbled for the opportunity. i appreciate that he also allows me to weigh in on developing the questions and to select which panelists would answer. thank you c-span for capturing this event for the whole world to see. i want to thank all of you who are attending. i want to get to some ground rules. the black conservative form is for two hours. how'd you address our future in two hours? after rot, paper, scissors, we have questions on the table. the topics are -- perception versus reality. urban issues in a 21st century.

the true history of civil rights. and conservative principles in the black community. we have 14 billion palace of whom i will specifically ask two questions each. i will ask three panelists to address the same question and move on to the next question with three different palace. if you disagree with something that was said by a panel is that was asked in a question, you can chime in for only one minute. then we will have opportunity later for you to address the question again. what's left completed the five toppers, 10 questions total, i will ask a question on gop outreach will be open to all of the palace. plus, we have two special guests in our audience who will also be asked of that question and address it. one is garland hunt and the other is troy town who is from the montgomery tea party. they will address that question

as well. if there is a panelist who did not get a question earlier but has a burning answer within them, that will be the time to address it. if we stay on time, we should have 15 minutes for audience q&a and time for allen west to close this historic event. well we're going to do with housekeeping on questions from the audience, you ask your question from your seat and i will repeat the question. now, introduction of our panel. our host, congressman alan west. i have to say one thing before you say hello. when i call your name as i am introducing the panel, you have a one address sentenced to say about who you are. congressman west, we know you. you do not get your sentence. >> happy to be here. >> congressmen karnie smith from

a south carolina. >> it is good to be with you here. i think it is very important as to recognize as we continue looking for ways that african- americans to become a part of the conservative movement, for wheat may need to focus more on the issues that drive us together then the forms that give us an opportunity to have a black-specific conversation. i think we'd have a conversation about the issues that drive our numbers in the community. >> well, we hope we will address some of those things today. >> we will also be joined by congressman jim jordan. i do not believe he is here yet due to the weather. he is chairman of the rnc republican study committee. we have congressman emanuel cleaver, also not with us yet. i understand he also had fled complications. a democrat from missouri and

also the chairman of the congressional black caucus. former congressman j.c. watts is also with us this morning. we want to thank you. [applause] >> thank you. i just want to add my thanks to congressman west and all those to put this together and organized. i know this takes a lot of work and a lot of effort on behalf of a lot of people. so, thank you to all of those who were involved. i look forward to the dialogue and discussion this morning. >> i believe that the congressman west announced the questions that they do not know, which when they are going to get. that is why they are trying to be nice to me now. [laughter] octavia johnson from roanoke, virginia. thank you for joining us this morning. >> good morning. i too want to thank congressman west for allowing me to be here

this morning. i believe it is -- it is important for us to be a leader within our community. keep the people informed as to our thoughts and our commitments. thank you. >> thank you. city council member bill cleveland from alexander, virginia. >> , former city council member. >> former city council member bill cleveland, on his way to d.c., perhaps. >> i am just glad to be here. in a substitute teacher. i ran in virginia but did not win. i still work with the community. i was just sitting out in the audience and saw my name here. so, thank you very much congressman west for allowing me to be a part of this.

i am really excited to answer questions. >> thank you. i am glad you have joined us. >> mayor gow b. fields. >> thank you. i look for to the conversation and then committed to the long view. >> great. the one breath role is to tell us something about yourself perritt so now i'm going to have to tell about everybody. some i could not find their bios on the web. i do not america's i have been at his beautiful city in lakeland and what a beautiful inspiration he is. fred solomon, from alabama. >> thank you. you talk about wondering why you are here. that is certainly what i am doing. wondering what i am on this panel.

but obviously i come to this from a little different perspective than most of you. but growing up in a rural town in south alabama in the 1940's and being the only jewish family in the entire county, much less the town, was an experience. in an old guy. i have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly -- believe me. if i have felt your pain. i would just like to say that i think americans who happen to have black skin are the same as americans who happen to have white skin. they want to have meaningful employment. they want to spend time with their children. they want to have some private time with their mates. and mostly, they would like to see their children graduate from high school and go to college.

not drop out of high school and go to prison. so, thank you for having me here. >> we appreciate that. that means i may have to ask you about educational choice and options. >next we have louisiana pastor, cleon bryant. i should also say tea party activists. >> absolutely. thank you, star, and congressman west for having us all here today. in the crater of the "runaway slave" movie. in a former president of the naacp in garland, texas. i have seen both sides of the street. i hope this particular conversation that is started today it will help us engage in dialogue that will be meaningful to all americans here in this

very important election year of 2012. we must not fail in our efforts to do what is necessary to bring about this discussion. again, i want to thank you you start and of course, colonel alan west to is a shining example of what an american can be -- red, yellow, black, or white in this country. >> thank you. community activist christine brooks. has she been delayed? ok. christine vote -- christine brooks has been delayed. have we heard from her at all? she is not going to bill to make it. she is coming? ok, thank you. karnie smith. >> thank you. we can broaden the base of the

conservative movement. i'm happy for the opportunity to be here. i appreciate it. >> karnie smith, sr.. >> good morning. thank you for the opportunity to share. i am happy to be with you. >> you are welcome. very nice to have you. finally, not least, we have sheriff david clarke, jr. from wisconsin. >> good morning. it is an honor to be here. i come from milwaukee, wisconsin. a city with a lot of issues. 55% black male unemployment. truancy and graduation rate, truancy 60%. 60% of students do not attend school regularly. the only graduate 50% of the

students that do. when they come out, it is not worth the paper is written on. they cannot even read it. we have the worst fourth and eighth grade reading scores in the nation. in beginning to get a sense of where i am at. in in law enforcement, so you know that connection is. it is a city that has forever been in the throes, if you will, the brace of liberal orthodoxy. i have been a man alone. a man alone trumping conservative values. it is a struggle when you are a manilow and you do not have the support. so, -- when you are a man alone and you do not have the support. i am pleased to be in this audience. >> i am glad you are saying these words. that is one of the reasons you are here.

most cities are reflective of what is happening in your city. what is interesting about milwaukee and wisconsin is it seems to be on the cutting edge of the ideas we are going to talk about today. this is the state that gave us the model for welfare reform. this is the state that gave us the model for school choice vouchers. again, i am privileged that we were able to convince the that we can talk about these issues from another perspective. we have to get into the realities -- the perception. where we go from here as an african-american people. we are going to move on into the form and the topics of the forum. perception versus reality. question one is going to go to, and forgive me, i am going to shoot out your last name when i asked a question. i will reiterate that how you get a question, i will ask three people the same question and move on to the next. if you have a burning thought or idea on a question you were not

asked, then go ahead and time in, but keep your words brief so we can get to everybody and every question. question what will go to west, cleveland, and solomon. it is about the question -- it is about the perception. interesting about what was said yesterday about the social suicide that many black conservatives are faced with when they say they believe a little bit differently than you. the perception that all blacks are liberal. the reality, 1/3 of blacks identify as conservatives. it is obvious that republicans had a branding or marketing problem if only 8/10 -- if only 8% to 10% vote regularly with the gop. what is the problem and how do we fix it. congressman west? >> if you are spot on. that is why i think this forum

is important. i'll give you an example. just about one week ago i was speaking at a ceremony for a rabbi. after i spoke, i used some references from the old testament to talk about transition of leadership, the rabbi's of looking up to me and started speaking to me. his first assumption was that if you're a member of congress, he started talking of the democratic party. when i told them i was a republican, he had this look on his face. it was a kodak moment. and then i told him, i am that guy. [laughter] i think it is very important that we take it upon ourselves. i do not need to wait for the party to do something that i know needs to be done. does one account is i tell people is that everybody has a blackberry or a computer or a media source. each and everyone of us sitting here today has an e-mail list.

the people in the audience have an e-mail list. how many are going to look at this thing on c-span right now. i know it will be replayed several times. how many people are going to send it out on youtube clips? that is how we break down the perception. we cannot have this fear of standing up and saying who we are. sometimes you gotta people, q and say, this, you know, i agree with you, too. why are you whispering? we shout at football games. we shout at church. we need to start shouting about the principles that make us who we are. first, i think we to have this conversation particulate what those principles are. >> thank you. >> well, with me it begins with being in the community and being seen. when they see you, but they cannot believe it. and then they ask, really, what

is your philosophy? i tell them, the same as yours. i will give you the creed that i stand by and it was one that a man wrote a while ago. i believe the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice. i believe that all individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities and should assume the responsibilities of citizens in a free society. i believe in fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraint should be exercised at all levels of the government. i believe the government must preserve individual liberty. by upholding constitutional limitations. i believe peace is best observed through a strong national defense. i believe that faith in god is rep preside -- is recognized by our founding fathers and it is essential to the moral fiber of this nation. they say, this is what i believe

in. i say, welcome to the republican party. [applause] they say, well, you are different from them. i say, no, i am not any different from them. what you have to do is be here. if you believe in it, we can move and achieved it. they say, in with you, but i'm not with them. i will vote for you. i say, no, do not vote for me. it is about the philosophy. do not know what you see, but what you know. that is what change is. >> fred, you have to follow that answer. >> it is going to be tough. >> but you are from alabama. >> i will do my best. the question is, what is the problem and how do we fix it? i think the problem is a combination of intellectual dishonesty, ignorance, and foolishness.

i believe that our education system is largely responsible for this. we have allowed our primary and secondary education to be dumped down to the lowest common denominator. our higher education system is heavily influenced by liberal and sometime extreme progressive agendas and that tends to attempt to teach our young what to think instead of how to think. we stopped teaching critical thinking, if we ever did. i think we did at one point. historical facts, especially facts pertaining to american history are intentionally ignored and a distorted at the college level. in fact, community colleges today you do not even have to take a course in american history to graduate.

throw in a national media that, with all due respect, is mostly a morally bankrupt, and intellectually dishonest in my opinion. the intellectual dishonesty part is incomplete. it leads to ignorance. we are all a year of something. ignorance of true history of america and the founding of our country. and the true history of the republican party as it relates to black america. regrettably, this ignorance of the truth and the facts makes people susceptible to professional race hustlers that sell racial division, outright lies, and hatred. you spray on a heavy dose of far left culture and presto.

warp speed. that is the problem as i see it. to fix it, quickly, is to send a grass roots foot soldiers and other black conservatives, regular folks, into the minority community with the facts and the truth in a non-condescending way using the frederick douglass republican model. starting with the swing states, these foot soldiers must spread the truth, recruit, and train more as they go. they can use the truth as they're sort and frederick douglass is value -- frederick douglass's value as their shield. this has to start now before it is too late. >> one of the reasons i think we are here is that it is a great

hope that it is not too late. you wanted to weigh in on this i believe? >> yes, i do. i concluded long ago that most black people do not think alike, they just vote alike. i think important -- i think the important question for republicans is that why is it that some black people that grew thus do not vote like us? that is a real question. perception in the arena that we are in and in most arenas is that it is reality. in my church on sunday mornings, if you come to our church and we give the impression that we do not care about you visiting our church, you are probably not going to come back. because of the perception that we gave. i would hope that in our discussion as we move forward that we would think about the perception.

do we have anybody here from the rnc this morning? to get anybody from the senatorial committee? -- do we have anybody from the senatorial committee? >> and they were invited. >> you know, this is a discussion that the institutions of the republican party that they need to be involved with. how many people do we have from the strategic table for the presidential campaign? i am at the strategic table for one of them, but i think we need a tim scott or an allen -- you do not have to be in the same camp that i am in. but somebody who looks like us needs to be at the strategic table to say, i know what you are trying to say, but i would not say it like that. [applause] again, perception is reality. i do not care if it is with

christians, with jews, if it is in church, your organization, my business. if my clients and my customers feel like i do not care about your needs, they will go somewhere else to buy a tractor. we cannot ignore this issue surrounding perception. what tim scott and allen west -- i had to defend them in saying, look. you do not know these guys. give them 15 minutes with you and give the other side 15 minutes with you. i will await the results in peace. but friends, we do have to be concerned about the perception. it just should not be people on this panel are the people in this room. >> right. thank you. i appreciate it. you are on the next question. >> can i get 30 seconds on this issue? >> yes.

>> i would like to mention, i agree with everything that has been said. the word conservatism is not in the black community. the reason is you have conservative democrats that think is not about civil rights in this nation. there were the jim crow laws and started the kkk. we want to hold dear to the principles of the founding fathers. i do not use the word conservative to identify myself. i am a conservative. in a fredrick douglas republicans. have respect for the constitution, respect for life. i believe in personal responsibility and limited government. that is what he talked about. i am not suggesting you do not use the word conservative, but make sure you define the word first. frederick douglass is how we can take the conservative message to the black community. a self-proclaimed republican.

that is how we will save this country and get us back to our constitutional conservatives. >> i am going to go out to the next question. since congressman jordan is not here yet, i will allow sheriff clark to take his turn and segue from the comment that you just wanted to make. i want to make a mention about jim jordan because when you talk about the republican party, he is exactly right. there is a branding and marketing problem. at this point, there is no excuse. congressman jordan heads up the republican study committee. they are doing everything they can to try to make a difference with us as african americans to try to write what has broken down -- to right what has broken down the black republican community situation.

it is really critical to the answers that you just heard. there is a perception of a white a misconception that more government is better for low- income populations. the reality is less government, whether in retirement, health care, green earth, labor laws such as minimum wage, would disproportionately benefit low- income americans. why is the misconception so embraced and why is the mistrust of civil liberty and personal responsibility? clark, scott, and kcarl smith. >> thank you. when the government hands out big government entitlement programs are used like an intoxicating drug. you wonder to yourself or out loud, why is it that individuals in central cities, black people, why they know?

is easy when you talk logically. when you try to reason with folks, you are working on the wrong side of the brain. you need to appeal to the emotional side of the brain. we are emotional people. we deserve to be emotional. but that is a different side of the brain where logic and reason, which i am hearing a lot of today and being an independent thinker works with me, but it is not going to work with people whose thinking dominates on the right side which is all emotion. when you start talking about government handouts and entitlements, that is a pleasing message. it is very hard to overcome. congressman west talked about the fear from a lot of people in our community and why they

whisper. why they tend to take an underground approach to being conservative. fear is tough to overcome. it is easy to say, and develop some courage and go out and stand up for what you believe in. when they see what happened to clarence thomas, when they see what happened to herman cain, when they see what happened to michael steele who at one time was head of the rnc, they look and go, see? i do not want that to happen to me. most folks just want to go through life, raise their families, and make a joy. they do not want to be in the belly of the beast like we are -- the people on this panel. we do not -- they do not want to be here. where is the face? when something from the left comes up in the city of milwaukee, they are real quick on the left to get jesse jackson and al sharpton to speak on behalf of all blacks.

we know that they do not, but there is still a face. where is the face on the conservative side? i am not talking not someone who can speak for all blacks. somebody mentioned in your earlier that someone who looks like us. where is the face of the conservative movement that you can send down into the gallos of our urban centers with the resources being able to connect emotionally, not reason and logic, take a message of reason and logic, it will not give you very far. you have to have a message that deals with the emotional prospectus. the left have a common strategy for when we tried to do this. they have a strategy. do not let that balloon get off of the ground. when you see it -- like, i am in milwaukee, a man alone. go get them. the gatekeepers, if you will. they have a strategy.

they counter any plan or strategy that we may have to spread his word. we need a face. we need a face on this movement. >> i think we have quite a few here. i appreciate those comments. you remind me of two things. dr. king, when he said that men fear nothing more terrible than to stand out against opinion. number 2, when you talk about milwaukee and how the left have a strategy against us getting something done. that is one of the reason i appreciate that we do have a congressman in the room who can pass laws that make rallies on the ground better for communities that may not even know they want those answers. congressman scott, i would like you to answer this question as well. >> thank you very much. i have had the opportunity to experience it from both sides. i was a lost child who needed some help from very liberal, well-meaning, well intentioned, big government coming to solve

my problems. i was living in abject poverty and had the opportunity to successfully fly out of high school in ninth grade. it held me reach my conclusion that the more government came to help me, the less response will i would be for myself. time and time again my mom would keep telling me that, boy, i brought you into this world, i may have to take you out. [laughter] but if you continue in your bad behavior, the people who are here to help you will criminalize you. the only person you can blame is the one in the mirror. if you listen to big government, big government says that someone caused your situation to happen. you are not responsible for where you are. the fact your dad is gone is the reason we have to treat you for the psychological deficiencies you have. unfortunate, when you arrive at the jail where i lived, they may give you a psychological assistance, but it will be from the guy in the bed.

the reality is the more government comes, the fuel -- the fewer people escape that place. it is a simple formula to overcome that. the most successful businesses in the world today never ask the question, who is going to be in the white house that cannot succeed? they only want to know the rules of the field and then they will play consistent with those rules. the great challenge that we have is the challenge of selling and marketing the truth to people were desperately seeking the truth. but in the absence of truth and good salespeople is they will bring anything -- sand, dirt, and no water. i think what we have to do to address the misconception that government somehow rescue is to tell our own stories. america's success is a story of struggle and triumph -- tragedy and more triumph. the only way you get something

for nothing is from the government. the only way it works out for you is when you realize that the something you are getting for nothing is an absolute change around your wrist that will lead you into the direction they want you to go. it is really not something for nothing. it is something for the incredibly high price of your freedom. that great challenge that we have to overcome is a challenge that has been mixed in this stew for so long that it is now inseparable for so many people. they cannot separate how i can be successful without the government. we think the guys in the white house will solve our problems. at the end of the day, i will succeed because i have been given in alienable rights and the opportunity for success. i was given the great threat of being an american. if we not start having a conversation about the underlying issues, it does not matter what the political consequence is. it is about political reality.

>> i appreciate it. [applause] yes, thank you. listening to come in not only please your in the congress, but he reminded me of how, at a point, people do get it for their own lives. back after all these political promises and their families have collapsed, they just cannot a few days ago to show that the african and meat -- the african- american community is saying they do not want this diet anymore. 87 s -- 87% are still with the current administration and the promises they are making. for us to see that kind of movement over such a short period time, maybe they are looking at their reality. >> i would say that for decades of a war on poverty ought to be a lesson in itself. >> you read my book, "uncle sam

posey plantation." if we're going to have to keep a little short because we have a lot of topics to get to. >> just a real quick, as we say in south alabama, cut to the chase. what these gentlemen are saying is that you, week, are losing the propaganda war. that is what it is. we got the right stuff and the right message, but we are losing the propaganda wars. >> perhaps. but again, if i could think congressman wes, because we are in a new year. i believe this was mentioned by the leader in our forum. the internet and other technology that is on our side, i am not sure that yesterday's reality is tomorrow's reality. >> can i get a chance responded that question? >> i am sorry. ok. yes, please.

i would like to introduce emanuel cleaver who has joined us. he is from the great state of missouri and is the chairman of the congressional black caucus. you are right on time because the next round of questions, i actually have one for you. [laughter] thank you for joining us. >> i want to quickly say, i agree with it, is the sale of the marketing strategy we have to overcome. it is propaganda. thank god we have a literary legacy of douglas's writings. the things we're talking about, he experienced all of this and he gave us a solution. he has to be studied. we have to elevate douglas. he was born into poverty. he was born a slave and did not even own his own body. beethoven, douglas, make no plans for the future. -- they told him, douglas, make

no plans for the future. douglas said the role of the national government is to protect us -- not to provide for us. then it comes into personal responsibility. douglas is the key to all of this. >> i am going to have to move on. we do have another round or we will allow others to weigh in. urban issues in the 21st century -- question one goes to watts cleaver clark jr.. getting a school choice and are an american has been a tremendous battle against unions and traditional civil-rights groups. what is the problem? why would we not have a society to have money follow students to the school of their choice.

? watts -- >> any of these things in the political arena, it is not any different in politics than it is it -- as a pastor getting up by sunday morning and delivering a sermon and delivering in it -- in an arena you are competing for the hearts and minds for people. politics gets a little bit nastier than it does on sunday morning. be that as it may, it is important who is delivering it. people being engaged, etc, and when you look at a lot of the battles that have been fought for so long, people have been made, and not just people in the

black community, but people in many communities for so long have been told that two plus two equals seven and all the sudden someone's comes along and says to plus 2 is four. i think we all should want the facts. keiko james said to me once and we talked about conservative this morning, he is the best definition -- she gave the best definition of conservative i have ever heard. she said conservative is living the way you're grandmamma taught you to live. you treat other people you want to be treated and you don't spend more money than you take in, you don't waste. you don't get yourself deeply in debt, etc, etc, and the list goes on.

i see some great years in here for so you know what i am talking about. we are in a competition for the hearts and minds of the american people on taxes, on economic development, - i made jack kemp a disciple. he knew the value of going into those underserved communities and doing things to say that we've got to it and eliminate taxes and regulatory policy in this community in order to attract capital here. simply because capital is a coward. you invest your money just like every other republican and democrat or liberal or conservative in this country and when you invest your money, you want a return. the money that you invest is not going to flow. you will not invest your money into an industry that is over-

regulated, over-litigated, and overtaxed. >> why is it so hard to get school choice? the supreme court has ruled it is not unconstitutional for money to follow children to the schools of their choice. yet every community that attempts to pass a voucher movement has stirred opposition, we are talking vicious opposition, from left, from unions and traditional civil- rights groups including the naacp. they are in every lawsuit we see when someone files for school choice. >> i was going to segue into that in terms of school choice. margaret thatcher said you win the argument, you win the votes. we are not winning the argument. care ifr issue, i don't it is a balanced budget -- >> what about school choice? >> obviously, we have not won

the argument -- i've seen numbers that anywhere from 70%- 80% of black people support parental choice. >> they do so why are we not getting it? i will ask congressman cleaver this. there is a problem with the community saying they want something this critical to their future connected specifically to their economic well-being and yet they have to fight the nfl -- naacp and the unions and other left-wing groups to get money to follow their children to the schools they want. >> let me close by saying that the very first comments we made in this room today was -- people that look like us but they don't vote like us. it is more than just an issue we are dealing with. parental choice in education, enterprise zones -- cleaver let congressman

speak. you come from a state where we know the hard parts of that state, st. louis, kansas city, both have tried to get school choice voucher initiatives and both have been overwhelmingly hit hard by the left. what is the problem? why cannot money follow children to the schools if the parents want them to go to? >> i apologize for being late them and no worries. >> i was on an airplane [laughter] >> you're not on a conservative airplane because they would a guy new here on time. your honor commercial, union- controlled airplane. go ahead. >> i would like to thank my colleague for inviting me for to

be here. kansas city and st. louis, missouri -- kansas city is the largest state in sex lewis is the second-largest in the have de-certified school district for it when i came to kansas city out of college, we had 74,000 students in kansas city and the public school system and now there are 16,000. there are only two cities in the state where you can have a charter schools, kansas city and st. louis. i think the argument that you are making, i would agree with except there's one problem -- there are still those schools which would deny access to african-americans. i think there are fewer than when i was in school but they are there.

it is the naacp legal fund which is separate. >> that's right. they are focused on dismantling marriage. they are fighting school choice. >> i have four children when i was elected mayor, jim kirkpatrick asked me, we are getting criticism because -- you are getting criticism because your children are going to a private school and i said to him -- let me tell you something, you can write with everyone about me but leave my children alone. when i ran for mayor, i did not run my children for anything and i will send to the best schools like to get them in. i believe that we should send their children to schools that can produce. i agree with you but you will find resistance only because there are schools -- and just

added in missouri -- or they just thought of allowing blacks to come to some schools than congressman scott, should we keep african-american children or low income children in failing schools until there is some type of racial equality in other schools? >> of course not. let me say this -- as a state legislator, for two years, i've fought for the school choice legislation to free tickets from schools that impoverished and had lower results. you cannot get a good education if you can get a good education. the unions in the education world are more committed to the structure of education than they are to the child. the only way to solve the problem is simple -- if you don't vote for the future of our children, we are not voting for you. i don't care if you are black or white or republican or democrat.

we start saying that the child is the future and vote consistent with that. it does not matter we are not doing that. when you look at south carolina, 44 cents on the education dollar goes to the child. 56% goes to the infrastructure. we lost the vote by one or two votes. the caucus in my state voted for the continuation of a poor educational choice and a poor educational outcome and future spending in government because they refuse to give the average child in a poor neighborhood a quality education. >> this is happening all over the place. we just lost in pennsylvania as a result.

it is appropriate that connect to other issues and that is reason why they will not separate out and vote for someone who has their child's best interests as opposed to the other issues. dr. smith, you had to weigh in on this? >> this is not my question but i want to wait for my question. >> we have not been able to get to everybody >>. >> when we take the republican message to the black community, dougklass in 1848 went through the same problem of school choice. he was trying to send his daughter rosetta, nine years old, to a seminary. the board of education of rochester tried to force him to send his daughter to an inferior school outside of his district and he said no. my money should follow my child.

douglass said the inability of a parent not to choose the school of their choice is worse than slavery. this is frederick douglass. [applause] this is an 1848. 1848 -- he said no, i will center there because she is my child and she deserves the best education possible. you will not determine for me what i will do for my child, 1848. frederick douglass said eight years later that school system was integrated because frederick douglass put pressure on the school system. one of his models was face it, fight it, fix it. by fighting it, he meant pressure, political pressure, media, news, he was a writer. he put pressure on the system until they changed the decision.

the most vulnerable of these are values. >> that's what he did. i appreciate that. i believe you mentioned that in your book. it is appropriate today because this very day, the school choice movement is still happening. we are still trying to fix it. fighting an hour harder hit communities. about 14 active voucher programs in the community are active and 41 states are considering legislation so it is important and very alive. fay said -- face it, fight, and fix it. the second question and his urban issue in the 21st century topic area will go to fields, johnson, a and bryant - economic revitalization of poor communities through deregulation

and lower taxes is not a new idea. congressman watts mentioned the late great jack kemp who worked for decades on enterprise zones to attract business interests ensure our part hit communities. today, well-known and respected n y c university economist paul roehmer has honduras' considering charter cities. it seems the jack kemp dream is coming true in places like rwanda. what is going on here in america? why don't we have our economic enterprise zones alive by now? kantor communities in america be revitalized by reducing corporate taxes and protectionist regulations? >> good morning, in responding to this question -- >> i should say the mayor because this is your first question. >> in responding to this

question, the answers revert back to the same things that have been said. no disrespect to anyone else but i believe that congressman watts said it extremely well. people have listened to the 2 +2 =7 that they write it and believe it and when you show it is true, it is not received. one thing we are dealing with is that not only have we lost the branding battle, we are losing the argument, but we tend not to understand what it is we're up against. democrats have been very successful at labeling black republicans as traders and that is how we are portrayed. michaud up with the truth or -- our solution is not well received. we have to find a better way of stepping up our game like business people on the marketing front. i have an insurance and

financial services business but i cannot show and tell someone i want to sell you some insurance or want to sell you this or that. i have to understand where they are coming from and make sure they know there is a solution that will solve that problem, that will heal the ache and pain. we have not done a good enough job of making sure we do that. we've also got to make sure we overcome a lot of the miss education that is taking place so people know we understand the issues and concerns. when we pulled that people believe in charter schools or school choice the way we do but then they don't accept it, we cannot forget how much resistance there will be from other blacks who are on the other side that don't want to give up their influence, that will make sure we are portrayed as the enemy and a trader has turned our back on our people and they are the ones that should be trusted. not all of them are that way but we need to understand that as a part of what is going on.

when you mix that can with our national and state support network, not having a set the table, not including us in how the strategy and the messaging is done, when you hear the short words or the rhetorical comments, it turns people off because they don't notice that they are not being listened to are the issues are understood. whether it is this issue, school choice, or some other issue, it reverts back to the same thing. we have a multifaceted challenge any to make sure we understand it first and we deal with that in a much smarter way in have been up to now. >> the reason i chose you is because some ideas i believe don't have to be initiated out of washington d.c.. when you talk about an enterprise is on the power of local government, where is the breakdown? what is stopping local activity,

local people, from fighting for removing some of these governmental barriers and taxes that have taken over are hard hit communities of business will come in? sharon johnson, would you answer that please? >> i believe we need to go into the communities and people need to be educated. wendy to speak with them and see what their concerns are and that we take it all to the table. many people have not been taught. once we teach the people within that community, let them know what is available to them, we need to get them out of their mind set and into another mind set of the economy to move them forward to bring them out of where they are and provide them with an education of the

services. if we tell them what it is we can do for them and get their input, a lot of people do not listen to the people that are living in those areas. i think once we get committees together from the people who live there and listen to them, and then a week then sit down and talk with each one of them and we will have a better understanding and we need to have an understanding of the people that live within the community. >> a lot of the spokespersons from the black conservative mellon have a deep appreciation of living in the community. i was seven years in and out of the grips of welfare. we're talking about l gettingaw. public policy shapes public behavior. we have had the last 50 year policies that basically pay for

irresponsibility. we resulted in that and we start to look at the breakdown and the collapse of family. there is a message to the individuals themselves, getting where they are and to bring them to understand some things we have heard already today. do i want this or not? it seems there is a hand on the governmental side that shapes the policy necessary. can that be done on a local level? >> it certainly can be done. we succeed as individuals but we have been taught to succeed as groups. it is very easy for us all to get into rut of overstating the obvious. we want to talk about solutions. what we can do is in fact create our own enterprise zones. about 28 years ago, joined with

people like the top 20, we would meet every three months and 20 of us would bring $3,000 to this meeting. these were black man, man of color -- the latino extraction. we would bring $3,000 to this meeting. we have to trust each other in order to consolidate that money together. in consolidating that money, that was $60,000. in a year's time, it was to order $40,000 for it we took that money and we would find houses and businesses to buy the other ethnic groups in that community were already buying. we turned them into businesses where we could put our people to work. we just talk about the problem. we actually did something by investing in its ourselves. by having scan in the game. the school question, i did not

get a chance to weigh in. >> go ahead and weigh in but we will have to make these answers and shorter. >> garland, texas, president of the naacp, we brought the money to our communities where they were closing our schools. there were closing black schools. the naacp was hijacked by the progress of less. it was not as hijacked as it was -- as it is now. we brought them into our community by creating magnet schools. the same ones that are in garland, texas today. that was a lawsuit by organization was bringing ban. then. we are overstating the obvious. we know what the problem history we came here today to talk about solutions. >> congress and west, perhaps you should weigh in on this

particular question that i am from georgia so i am not too long winded. >> german cleaver to his credit brought in some -- chairman cleaver to discredit brought in some of the prime members of the black caucus and talked about how we incentivized that investment capital to go into those communities we talked about what jack kemp brought up and these urban empowerment zones. the former chairman of black entertainment television, jack johnson, said how come we look at something as simple as capital gains tax? how come we just capital gains tax to incentivize people to invest in minority businesses and get this thing happening in the urban cities of a get a good return and they have a lower capital gains tax because they did invest? what we need to do is incentivize economic growth. it is not just the black community, it is all communities. we're doing everything in

washington, d.c. that is counterproductive. i grew up in the same neighborhood as dr. king. i remember walking down auburn avenue as a young kid, there were thriving businesses, professionals, everything. you go to auburn avenue today, it is gone. where do we go back to blocking and tackling and understand what the sector needs? growth andvize incentivize small businesses to get back into the urban areas? america can only be as great as the sum of its parts. if the black community continues down the path that is in right now with this as exorbitant unemployment and failure small businesses, it will not happen. up with someo come tax policies and incentivize the

small business growth back into the black community, thank you. [applause] >> that is so appropriate and necessary. >> to that point, many conservatives think when you talk about minority businesses, you have abandoned your conservative values. that is as silly as saying if you profit, you are anti-civil rights. >> and if you target investment. >> that is just the reality ve. >> black people employed most black people in los angeles. in chicago, is black people. the black small-business owners hire people in the community. we are not anti-republican or anti-conservative to say we ought to incentivize people to attract investment capital in underserved communities.

>> 15 seconds? i did not get to add this to my answer. i am by that -- i invite you to come to light land lak --eland to create an environment in those communities that are hardest hit. >> you have a wonderful community and i have been there before. we will have to talk about that type of scenario in another panel discussion were the government does the work and/or removing barriers of government so others will invest in that work which is why the jack kemp's idea was mentioned as well as what the rwandan president is doing. he said he is not a here to beg for charity barry wants to build prosperity. he has created an environment so they could to free trade. he does not they want foreign aid.

>> i was not going to do this but i have to because i experienced this firsthand in the 1970's in the carter administration. a lot of these ideas will work and does a matter of their liberal or conservative ideas. the 300-pound elephant in the room or the 3,000 pound elephant in the room is the corruption. when your taking 40% off the top with corruption, not of these things will work. that is what happens. >> that is another discussion to say whether government should do this or private. i would like to say -- still would probably incentivizing and remove the barriers that are over our city areas to private investment will freely flow as opposed to what has been done to set up the structures to say you come to me and i might give you a handout. those are some of the challenges

we have. this reminded me of the next question -- you're talking about what has changed and topic number three is the black church and state. question number 1 blue b t.rooks, dr. smith, bryan the top three social crises in black america today, hiv aids, abortion, and welfare dependency are considered to be rooted in sexual conduct. is a legitimate cause for black pastors to fight for port traditional definitions of marriage and the idea for a two- parent household which has been the foundation in the black community? i think this was inappropriate transitional question providential because we can talk about economics all day as a result of the expansion of the governmental role. the black family has collapsed.

we'll go to dr. smith and ask you this question. should black pastor speak up on this, against the hard left in their communities that are fighting against traditional values? >> the black pastor has to. part of his role is to be a profit as well as a priest. i'm concerned about the worship content in the church but also concerned about the social struggles that affect the congregations. the pastor has that responsibility to make the word of god all live and live and real and the social context. and not being afraid to take that particular stand. that is why the pastor has to make sure that he or she does not allow the government to silence his or her voice. we have to be very careful and accepting government grants that

the entire hands and silence our voices. that pastor has that responsibility to be the watch person, so to speak, of that particular community and not be afraid to share that. sharinghonest about the and molding and shaping of the community and not being -- not getting into the surrounding pressures but setting the standard for the surrounding community. >> what is the problem? are they two in bed with the political structures of their community? >> i have been a pastor and in the clergy for over 33 years. i have seen how political money has corrupted good man in the pulpit. appalled that in many cases --

the pulpit in many cases, you have hustlers who have infiltrated the pulpit and are now fleecing the flock of god. using that pulpit to push a liberal agenda. that is the truth of it. let's face the facts -- let's talk -- the fact of the matter is this -- when they in fact talk about what is wrong on sunday morning from the bible, their social sermon is something totally different because they are afraid of being called bad apples. they are afraid of living the truth that they preach on sunday morning. the results of that is that even though we preach against abortion, we preach against same-sex marriage and all of that, the way the lifestyle is

that as lived throughout the week encourages the congregation to go ahead on tuesday or saturday and vote on voting day. for something totally different. [applause] this has to be confronted and faced an honest discussion. the one thing that most americans even today in our comfortable lifestyle are afraid of and this is what the were runaway slave movie addresses is that there is a slave result that -- revolt that must take place in this country. that still sparks fear in the hearts of most americans when they think of people who they feel they have subdued for such a long time. when they see these bad apples sitting in this room today with the exception of a few, they think that there is something to be afraid of. herman cain was called a bad

apple by a person who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, harry belafonte. why was he called that? you put 90% of this panel in the same barrel with the progress of liberals that are poisoning our children in our schools, better poisoned our communities, they will in fact ruin it. for the progress of/liberal agenda. i encourage everybody who see this type of corruption going on, from the pulpit to the state house, to the white house, to become bad apples and, in fact, they will s indeedpawn a next generation and they have spoiled almost two generations of people who have become enslaved to a system that must be addressed by people sitting

in this room today. [applause] >> preach, pastor. in a republican -- as a republican in a hard hit democratic district, i lost overwhelmingly. i knew i had the right message and i thought often about slavery and i ask the question of why after slavery in this country and did, there were 4 million slaves, why did only 1 million leave this out? what was wrong with the rest of them? you are right, there is a complacency and a need for leadership. >> 30 seconds because i have a conference call and. noon >> we appreciate you being with us. >> you all heard the passion. the analogy that he shared with us -- let me peel the onion for you more. men that i talk to our pastors who had not sold out on sunday

morning, i have talked to them. i have studied with them. i have worshipped with them. i had not talked to all of these men that i will name a few. tony evans, fred priced ,brett sure youd ajkes, i'm could all men some who have been as consistent. they preach to megadeaths congregations every sunday morning. 90% of their congregations don't vote like us. they think like us but they don't vote like us. the first, second out of my mouth is we've got the solution -- the first comment that can out of my mouth was what does the republican party to to this project to establish as an institution may mechanism that says we hear you, we are in the trenches with you, and when those crazy things are said, you

know who they call? tim scott, star parker, allen west, michael fields ,jc watts - that is my point. it takes a little bit of massaging to say we need to be at their strategic table. you want us to buy the mills but you don't want us to buy the groceries. i have been saying this for 20 years i can show you the scars on my back to prove it to the point that i run the risk of being the whiny black guy but so be it. if i am convinced it is not the truth, i talk to these pastors. they have been for life, they have been for maris, they have been for the things we believe in and have preached in the pulpit. >> i want to interject something

-- we talked about the 33% thatpoll with the sandinista the average there. i have talked to many african americans of the 33% who are convinced they should stay independent. republican-democrat political world is business. if you're nodding gays in the primary part week -- order way up, -- if you are not in the primary part, they have a problem when it comes to be devised. >> i totally agree. this is not about waiting on the party. the party knows this is going on today. congressman west invited them. >> hi 100% agree with you. >> you have a life issues. the african-american vote to stand for life are in the

trenches and you have people in the gap who stand for marriage. they're trying to raise money. i am going to be okay. >> you are right, there is a responsibility of those we are attempting to represent in the community with the republican party. then there is a responsibility within the community. i will let the congressman have another word >> thank you very much it is not the pastors, it is what the individual does. when you get into the black media and what those conversations members are listening to, they are listening to people that are playing their music and shaping and. mines their minds. it undermines the pastor in the pulpit. we get -- how we get the message to those individuals who are listening in the black media?

i turn them off. i love the music but they will not shape my mind. we can get our message out in that same way and we will get the people to do what they need to do. >> i have a master's in divinity and i haven't read -- i have been pastor for 37 years and i can tell you without fear of contradiction that the black church is the most conservative institution and the black community. [applause] you cannot get black pastors talking about doing marriages between two men. i don't care how liberal they might be on some stuff, you cannot pay them to do that. one thing i want to say is let's not create the visual. we don't need to. i will get to that later. >> if they are in disagreement with these activities that are

now being taken over in their communities and specifically we look at a law that was passed in california or evade -- where it will be taught in their schools, perhaps their silence should not be. the next question will go to you again congressman cleaver. this is about planned parenthood and why do traditional civil-rights organizations like the naacp and i will include the congressional black caucus -- we find that most of the members of the congressional black caucus joined with supporting organizations like planned parenthood to fight the black church on abortion with almost 2 per cent sign of black births terminated where is the connection between the black community? they see the crises. they are working that man who is struggling with his identity.

when it comes to the political representation of these communities, those champions of the community come to washington and undermine every single thing that pastor has said on sunday morning. what is the problem? >> the congressional black caucus has never taken a position on planned parenthood. >> perhaps they have not taken an active position -- when we look at the vote and support of the funding, it was a big deal this last go around. the funding to take $330 million from a billion dollar corporation when everybody is trying to get corporate welfare out of the city, an organization that is bent on destroying black ifildren is written in there, they have not taken a formal

position, why would they continue to voted this way? >> i made a statement that was a factor b and i gotooed. -- and i got booed. they have never taken a position on this. plans parent is more complex. planned parenthood does more than an abortion abortion and the being a small part of what they do and they do a lot of other things for poor women who come in for a number of other personal reasons that have nothing to do with abortion. it is not a simple issue. the cbc has never voted that we are for planned parenthood.

a number of people will vote against the measure even though they might feel there are some points -- parts of planned parenthood that are directed to poor people. >> let's say specifically abortion, getting one of the 41 congressional black caucus members to vote on the side of pro-life has been challenging. >> it is important for us -- i'm not into trying to fight people and all of this stuff. even the language we use is like if we are mad -- >> it is defensive. there are some people upset in the black community they are not hearing from their representative.

today is the annual march for life. >> it is already illegal for the house of representatives because of the hyde amendment to put any kind of money into abortion. many times what happens is that it is put into legislation even though everybody knows and my colleagues will tell you that it is against all lot to hide amendments. people put in legislation so we can have this argument it will not change anything. it is not allowable in the united states congress to put n.ney into abortion very >> >> to the members vote for the continuation of funding of three of the $30 million to planned

parenthood although they say they are not using that money is possibly for abortion? they are a $1 billion corporation. is this important? should we challenge the congressional black caucus? does it matter at all the children are being killed in the womb? >> we should challenge. the first challenge starts with us individually. examine yourself to make sure you are solid of faith and start voting your values. that is the problem. if we start voting our values and not lean toward any particular party and vote your values, stop being a political jump and the christian champion. that's what we need to do. we need to start advocating these politicians to a value we want to see in the community. we run them, they don't run us. >> quickly --

>> you are seeing the residual impact on this when you consider it breaks down all community lives and maris rates in black america which are dismal enough for you to look at. they are getting younger every day to cart off to jail them . >> i have seen a parallel when congressman west talked about the silence of the black conservatives and he talked about the pastors in the last question kor. i hear it again this issue. i'm one of those that believe that silence is an argument carried out by other means. i believe not taking a position is taking a position yes, sir. >> if i may follow up on that. we are called as pastors to identify the caesars of this world. jesus tells us to render unto

caesar the things that artsy's and under god the things that are god's. that plan states there are some things that do belong to caesar like taxes, payment taxes, but there are some things that do not belong to the caesars of this world and we are called to stand in the gate when we see that happening and proclaim it. if we do not do it, we are not the minister is that we should be. that is what is wrong in this scenario as far as what we look into our communities. we see how they have been run down. we see how they have been affected by political voting. it is because years ago, my pastor, dr. edward jones, former president of the national baptist convention of america, i grew up in the 1950's.

i remember a negro days. i remember all those things. i also remember how active and important the church was and i remember what a leader he was. in our community. that type of pastor who will tell it like this, we did not kill babies back in the 1950's and 1960's the way we kill that now. that is because you had someone standing up to the caesars of this world and that is what is failing us today. >> what a segue into the next question on conservative principles in black america. because time is running and we're running out of it and want to allow opportunities for the audience to weigh in, i will open these next two questions but keeper answers brief. we will then move on to ourq &a from our audience. on family issues, 50 years ago, 70% of black children bore raised by mary parents.

today, 70% of black children are being raised by a single parent. many social factors point to the expansion of the welfare state as cause for the breakdown of marriage and the black community. we're talking about government engagement. are they right or wrong? connect that to the next question which is if there is a connection between government dependency and a state a black family today, what are black people so insistent to elect liberal political leaders and reject conservative leaders that espouse a message of traditional values? dr. smith -- >congressman, thank you for joining us. i will allow you to say a few words before we conclude. >> the setting of the family is very important.

i go back to this because as it was said, we are here for solutions. for me, frederick douglass had a solution. he did not have both parents in his home. yet, he developed a strategy to be successful and what in spite of the context. there are some things he did specifically, from ages 6-21, that helped him survive the slavery and choose the path of freedom. he was reading books, he took responsibility for some education. he was courageous. he fought with his former master and lived to tell about it and read about it. >> i will transition the question and open up to congress webb. surely get rid of all

governmental programs that assist the poor so people look toward more responsible behavior is and/or activities? we did not have a welfare state when frederick douglass was here. >> you don't want to take away all government programs. one of the mandates of the constitution is to promote the general welfare every child born in the united states of america, every person that comes to the united states of america gets a ladder of equality of opportunity. sometimes you will slip off the ladder and you have to have a safety net and that is what government needs to do is see itself as a safety net. in a to bounce back up and get back on that letter to continue to climb. what we have in this country now and it comes back to the very simple argument of the quality, opportunity vs. equality and achievement. some people say the safety net becomes a hammock. you just lay there. that is not what america is about.

we listened to senator daniel patrick moynihan and he said if you take the man out of the home, you will destroy a the community. the equality of opportunity leads to economic freedom. the quality of achievement, leads to independent -- dependent economies. limited government, constitutionally mandated, fiscally responsible -- that is what we have to get back to. i think you'll see not just in the black community but all communities, you will see a better day. it comes down to opportunity verses achievement that congressman jordan, take this opportunity to introduce yourself formally. >> talk about the specifics the republican study committee is looking at related to outrage. before you can into the room, republicans a big double bed. i think your the only one that has responded to the invite.

you have one of the best committees and representing washington, d.c. because oral conservative looking for conservative or christian principles in the law. >> thanks for having me and thank -- and let me thank colonel west and his leadership at this important time in our country. i want to apologize, i had a delayed flight. >> we heard. >> the colonel was just talking about the family. if you think about it, the institution that ultimately determines the strength of our entire society and culture is the family. the first institution the good lord put together was not the church for the state, it was the family. when you have a welfare-type structure that says to the unwed mom out there, don't get a job and don't get married, have more kids and you get more money, you have to readjust that to focus on the right kind of things.

that is what we should be focused on. we try to do that in the republican study committee. we have a pro-family bias. that is the reason i got into politics, to do things that benefit that institution. >> you'll also missed your question. >> let me thank you for being involved and taking the risk that as a service id when you try to make a difference. it is easy to set and the sidelines and criticize that you folks are getting involved and trying to make a difference. when you do that, there is persecution that comes with it. i appreciate your willingness to take the risk associated trying to accomplish anything significant. cal thomas was talking about the way the lead national press sees things different than normal

americans he was talking about a somewhat we get -- has sometimes a good abuse from the press. cal thomas says i read the bible and the new york times to see what each side is up to. there is some truth to that. thank you for taking the risk that sometimes comes with fighting with pro-family positions. i appreciate that. we at the republican study committee tried to stay focused on that. >> thank you. i will go to the audience and first i will call a garland hunt because it represents prison fellowship. could you ask the first question? when we talk about the family, i almostsegued us into a bus going to prisons and seeing

young boys who have mismanaged their lives as a result of some things we discussed today. thank you join us. >> thank you very much. about the whole idea of how the nation as well as the gop response to the conservative african-american communities, one area we have to deal with are the issues that face us. i noticed we did not mention the incredible disparities in the criminal justice system and those that are incarcerated. america is the number one country in the world in the rate of incarceration. >> two million. seven under 98,000 african- american. >> as a result of that mostly

half of those, when they are brought into the system, not only are they going in but they also are coming right back out. 700,000 at least every year which is more than a whole state of wyoming. how do we stop the recidivism rate? over 67%, now go right back again. the situations are even more amplified in that community. if you are black, your nine times more likely to spend time in prison and be arrested. one out of three young black man between the ages of 20and 29 are either in jail, on probation, or on parole. that's what we have to work on reentry. that is a group we can change. we can change their responses. once something in their character changes, they begin to

be a different person. i want to challenge us in that regard. the prison population is being recruited by islam and other things. we have to mention that those coming out can champion our communities and that's where we should start. >> i appreciate the comments. it has been asked twice about solutions, prison fellowship and the program they have as on the solution side. we have other solution makers in the audience as well i see dean nelson from caranet. you have crisis centers in the country that are helping people as a result of decisions that have made and maybe their families have made because they are in these broken homes or broken communities. i'll open up for questions and we have about five minutes. i see catherine's hand.

and a couple of other people so i will leave it there. make it >>. >>. quick. >> congressman cleaver, you indicated the hyde amendment prohibits funding going for abortion. says that moneys the succes cannot go to an agency that performs abortions. how is it that 365 million taxpayer dollars goes to planned parenthood every year ? >> this is available on our website to see again. the u.s. house is about to gavel and for the week beginning with general speeches. members will debate a couple of non-concur -- conversation -- controversial spending bills for it want to mention a bunch of new sources. we were