Controversies
Clay made news in early 2007 when, as co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, he objected to the possible inclusion of white congressman Steve Cohen from Tennessee, who represents a majority black district and had made a campaign promise to attempt to become the first white member of the CBC. Clay circulated a memo to current members saying that it was "absolutely critical" that membership remain "exclusively African-American." Although it is not part of the CBC's bylaws that members must be black, all members so far have been black.
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