WILDER CRITICIZES BLACK LAWMAKERS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 16, 1993                   TAG: 9301160029
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
WILDER CRITICIZES BLACK LAWMAKERS
Gov. Douglas Wilder took a veiled swipe Friday at black members of the General Assembly, chiding them for engaging in a "crabs in a basket" syndrome of pulling other blacks down.
Speaking to several hundred Richmond business and community leaders at a breakfast commemoration of Martin Luther King's birthday, Wilder immediately launched into the lawmakers.
"Some of them in `leadership' positions, or at least positions of responsibility, cannot do or say anything unless it is to criticize other African-Americans," he said.
"These persons usually never ever put their necks on the line for anything, or advance or lead any cause," Wilder asserted. "They haven't figured it out yet that no one from the press corps or anywhere else ever calls or quotes them unless it's for a negative comment. No one ever asks them to comment on white officials."
Wilder mentioned no names in his remarks and wouldn't do so later. To do so would be to "engage in their same kind of behavior," he said.
But his remarks came as he is in the midst of a running argument with black legislators over their continued support for Attorney General Mary Sue Terry's campaign for governor. Wilder last month backed away from a promise to support Terry should she get the Democratic nomination and suggested other blacks might "take a hike" as well. Several black lawmakers criticized those remarks.
At the same time he stepped away from Terry, Wilder criticized the black lawmakers for "passively occupying their seats" and failing to push legislation critical to their constituents.
Wilder and members of the Virginia Black Legislative Caucus met privately for 45 minutes Thursday to try to clear the air.
The caucus never formally responded to Wilder's first criticisms, but several members were clearly chafing under the sting of Friday's words.
Several black lawmakers, including the caucus chairman, Del. William Robinson, D-Norfolk, would not comment on Wilder's remarks or the meeting.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB