CBC to Obama on Syria: Just Tell Me Why

Black lawmakers seek answers from Obama on Syria.

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) - The Ferguson Grand Jury's decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the death of Michael Brown is a miscarriage of justice. It is a slap in the face to Americans nationwide who continue to hope and believe that justice will prevail. This decision seems to underscore an unwritten rule that Black lives hold no value; that you may kill Black men in this country without consequences or repercussions. This is a frightening narrative for every parent and guardian of Black and brown children, and another setback for race relations in America. My heart goes out to Michael Brown's loved ones and to the loved ones of all the Michael Browns we have buried in this country. (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Questions, They've Got a Few - Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Marcia Fudge raised eyebrows when she sent an email asking CBC members to "limit public comment" on military intervention in Syria until they have more information. The group will meet with National Security Adviser Susan Rice on Sept. 9, but in the meantime, tongues will wag. Here's a roundup of what several have had to say. — Joyce Jones (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Hakeem Jeffries - This Brooklyn native definitely understands why Brooklyn goes hard! Winning the eighth Congressional seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2012, Jeffries introduced The Superstorm Sandy Mortgage Relief Act of 2013 in the state of New York. Last summer, Jeffries held a dozen “Congress on Your Corner” meetups, where he stood outside of libraries, post offices and neighborhood institutions talking to residents and answering questions. (Photo: REUTERS/Hans Pennink)

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Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (New York) - “There are two major considerations to take into account,” said freshman Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. “The prestige of an administration we strongly support versus an open-ended conflict in the Middle East that risks the lives of the people we represent if war were to break out. Not to mention the diversion of resources back into our communities that sorely need it.” (Photo: REUTERS/Hans Pennink)

Photo By Photo: REUTERS/Hans Pennink

Elijah Cummings - Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings is the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He was chosen for the position by his colleagues even though he wasn’t next in line because he’s tough and unafraid to stand up to the panel’s equally tough chairman. And if Democrats regain the House in November, he’ll be poised to head the powerful committee.(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Rep. Elijah Cummings (Maryland) - "In this case, we must understand in the clearest terms the objective of a strike against Syria. We must understand how we will achieve that objective, including whether allies will join our efforts, and how long it may take," said Cummings in a statement. "We must understand, as best we can, the risk of collateral damage, including civilian deaths. If our objective is not regime change, we must understand how we will measure success."(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Rep. Charles Rangel (New York) - If I felt for one minute that my nation was in danger, and I'm 83, I would volunteer and do something to protect her," Rangel told The Cable. "But I'll be d**ned if I see anything worth fighting for."(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Rep. Charles Rangel (New York) - If I felt for one minute that my nation was in danger, and I'm 83, I would volunteer and do something to protect her," Rangel told The Cable. "But I'll be d**ned if I see anything worth fighting for."(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) - "I think, more than anyone else, the commander in chief of a nation would be an excellent person to articulate both his mission, his passion and what is the impact and danger of chemical weapons," Jackson Lee said in response to whether Obama should make a case to the nation. (Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images)

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Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) - "I think, more than anyone else, the commander in chief of a nation would be an excellent person to articulate both his mission, his passion and what is the impact and danger of chemical weapons," Jackson Lee said in response to whether Obama should make a case to the nation. (Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images)

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Rep. Barbara Lee (California) - "I'm not voting for this because I believe we have alternatives and we have nonmilitary alternatives. I am offering an alternative bill … that would lay out — what an option would look like that's nonmilitary, that would get us to, one, a negotiated settlement, two, hold those who perpetrated these horrific crimes, hold them accountable and bring them to justice," Lee said in an interview on NPR.(Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Rep. Barbara Lee (California) - "I'm not voting for this because I believe we have alternatives and we have nonmilitary alternatives. I am offering an alternative bill … that would lay out — what an option would look like that's nonmilitary, that would get us to, one, a negotiated settlement, two, hold those who perpetrated these horrific crimes, hold them accountable and bring them to justice," Lee said in an interview on NPR.(Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Rep. Gregory Meeks (New York) - “At this point I am undecided. I need to know whether other countries will be joining us in this action. I also need to know whether any of our allies face imminent danger of retaliation by the Assad regime or its backers," Meeks said in a statement.(Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images)

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Rep. Gregory Meeks (New York) - “At this point I am undecided. I need to know whether other countries will be joining us in this action. I also need to know whether any of our allies face imminent danger of retaliation by the Assad regime or its backers," Meeks said in a statement.(Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images)

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (Missouri) - "If I had to vote today, I would cast a 'no' vote," Cleaver told The Wall Street Journal on Sept. 4. (Photo: Courtesy Emmanuel Cleaver)

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Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (Missouri) - "If I had to vote today, I would cast a 'no' vote," Cleaver told The Wall Street Journal on Sept. 4. (Photo: Courtesy Emmanuel Cleaver)

Rep. James Clyburn (South Carolina) - "Issues of war & peace require thoughtful consideration," Clyburn tweeted. "I reserve judgment on Syria until a resolution and more details are forthcoming." (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Rep. James Clyburn (South Carolina) - "Issues of war & peace require thoughtful consideration," Clyburn tweeted. "I reserve judgment on Syria until a resolution and more details are forthcoming." (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Rep. Keith Ellison (Minnesota) - "There is no 'military solution' to the crisis in Syria," said Ellison, "but we must consider whether limited military action will reduce Assad’s capacity to kill more innocents."(Photo: REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori) 

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Rep. Keith Ellison (Minnesota) - "There is no 'military solution' to the crisis in Syria," said Ellison, "but we must consider whether limited military action will reduce Assad’s capacity to kill more innocents."(Photo: REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori) 

Rep. Yvette Clarke (New York) - "We need to have a conversation about what this means in light of our priorities as a caucus," said Clarke. "I'm not at all certain that it's a monolithic vote. Each member is going to look at what these actions mean for our nation, and then we're going to relate it to the concerns of our constituents." (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)

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Rep. Yvette Clarke (New York) - "We need to have a conversation about what this means in light of our priorities as a caucus," said Clarke. "I'm not at all certain that it's a monolithic vote. Each member is going to look at what these actions mean for our nation, and then we're going to relate it to the concerns of our constituents." (Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)