West Indian Congress(wo)men for Clinton!?

Both Rep. Yvette Clarke, the only current West Indian-American US Congressman, and Rep. Donna Christian-Christensen the delegate from the US Virgin Islands, have both endorsed HILLARY CLINTON for President!!

Yvette Clark who was born to Jamaican parents represents Central Brooklyn which includes Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, and Kensington neighborhoods -- easily the most West Indian district in the United States. And I repeat, she has endorsed HILLARY CLINTON, in other words NOT Sen. Barack Obama for President of the US. Her choice is likely to be disappointing to many of her constituents and perhaps many in predominately-Black nations who would probably love to have a black man lead the Western world. Interestingly, Rep. Clarke occupies the district fomerlly held by Rep. Shirley Chisholm - born to Guyanese & Bajan parents, and the first woman and the first African-American to seek the Democratic nomination for President. She was a serious, albeit long-shot, candidate; she won 3 states!!! (A record for both women and for African-Americans not yet broken by Sens. Clinton or Obama who have both won 2 states apiece.) If only Rep. Clarke could have gotten that "2-for-1" choice of nominee. Or even a "3-for-1" choice. The Congresswoman certainly was under pressure to endorse Clinton, not only as a female politician, but as a member of the NY delegation. Every single Congressional representative from the state of New York has endorsed the powerful Senator.

I'm not sure how significant losing the support of both West Indian Congresspersons is for Sen. Obama. What is significant is that support from either of the two would have broken a deadlock among black legislators. Believe it or not, Sens. Obama and Clinton have split the Congressional Black Caucus vote 15-15 even though Sen. Obama is a sitting member of the CBC. But I must say, Sen. Obama has yet to use his seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to benefit our Region.