Politics
‘There is a Racket’ – Dems Pressed on Consultant Diversity
[Politico]
CHICAGO – Democrats tout their commitment to diversity as a major electoral advantage, but their party is facing increasing pressure to do a better job walking the walk when it comes to its own political consultants.
The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, members of the Democracy Alliance major liberal donor club and a grand dame of Democratic operatives are among those pressuring the deepest pocketed organs of the party to send more work to political consulting firms owned by minorities.
“There is a racket. Everybody inside the Beltway is already connected, so it’s always been difficult to expand opportunities for women and minorities to have a seat at the table,” said the trailblazing Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.
Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, in recent months has quietly urged Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel to contract with more minority owned consulting firms. But she hasn’t been pleased with the DCCC’s response, telling POLITICO, “we’ve met and repeatedly requested the DCCC’s diversity goals in writing and have yet to receive them. It is clear to me they have no desire to address this issue.”
