[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 127 (Monday, November 13, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2009]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO CONGRESSMAN JAMES CLYBURN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAJOR R. OWENS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 13, 2006

  Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, in the past I have often had the delight of 
saluting my departing colleagues with a tribute in Rap poetry. At this 
point, however, circumstances have been reversed and I am departing. As 
I leave it will be my pleasure to offer some brief portraits in words 
describing the very able women and men I leave behind. I would like to 
begin with Jim Clyburn. I visited his State on two different occasions 
and I was impressed by the fact that everyone had very strong opinions 
about Jim. They either feared him or they admired him. That is one sign 
of true greatness. The composite opinion of Jim which emerged was one 
of a great conciliator, a leader with a keen understanding of the fact 
that politics is the art of compromise but the compromise must always 
be an honorable and productive one.
  A lighthearted summary of Jim's special assets is reflected in the 
following Rap poem.

                               Mister Jim

     With a bounty of transportation bucks
     Freshman Clyburn showed he was clever;
     All the South Carolina clubhouse boys
     Danced Dixie up and down
     Cheering Mister Jim and diversity forever.
     Mister Jim
     Made Mister Charlie look cheap,
     Sowing his seeds of sunburned charm
     A lots more dollars
     Congressman Clyburn managed to reap.
     Before he agrees to negotiate
     Mister Jim dangles the right bait;
     From smoke filled rooms
     He emerges with fat surprises;
     Mister Jim
     Never despises compromises.
     Mister Jim rescued
     Bill Clinton's Black politics career;
     When affirmative action fumbling
     was about to end it
     Mister Jim talked to Bubba
     And convinced him to merely mend it.
     Mr. Jim can display
     Warm understanding affectionate appeal
     But the world is a better place
     Cause Mister Jim
     Knows how and when to deal.

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