CROWN HEIGHTS COMES TO THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS :

Leaders Reach Out to Davis (Lauren W. Whittington, June 27, 2002 , Roll Call)

After the resounding defeat of Rep. Earl Hilliard (D-Ala.) on Tuesday marked the end to a contest that strained relations between black and Jewish Democrats, observers said the same tensions are all but certain to erupt in other races in this cycle. [...]

The Alabama race gained national attention in recent weeks in part because of the amount of out-of-state money funneled to the candidates in the majority-black district, one of the poorest in the nation. Although Davis has maintained throughout that the race was a referendum on the incumbent's lack of legislative accomplishment and poor constituent service, donor interest in the race was fueled largely by Middle East politics.

Davis was heavily supported by the Jewish community, while Hilliard got considerable support from Arab-Americans and affiliated interest groups. Hilliard voted against a resolution passed by the House earlier this year that condemned Palestinian suicide bombings.

This dynamic can't help but hasten the Republification of the Jewish vote. You can understand why they did it, but Jewish donors working to defeat black Congressmen is a recipe for open warfare in the Democratic party. Posted by Orrin Judd at June 27, 2002 4:26 PM