BET Political Wire: The Gloves Are Off

CBC calls out Obama on cabinet diversity and drone strikes.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - Congressional Black Caucus calls out President Obama on cabinet diversity and drone strikes; Rep. Paul Ryan accidentally vows to destroy the nation's health care system; Snoop Lion wants to light up with Bill Clinton and more. — By Joyce Jones

No Black Nominees? - Obama has only a few cabinet posts left to fill and Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman Marcia Fudge is growing concerned. In a March 11 letter sent to the president, she noted that in addition to her own disappointment that he's not named any new Black nominees, the Black voters who helped him win election are calling CBC members to ask what's up with that. (Photos from left: Jim Baron/MCT /LANDOV, John Gurzinski/Getty Images)

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No Black Nominees? - Obama has only a few cabinet posts left to fill and Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman Marcia Fudge is growing concerned. In a March 11 letter sent to the president, she noted that in addition to her own disappointment that he's not named any new Black nominees, the Black voters who helped him win election are calling CBC members to ask what's up with that. (Photos from left: Jim Baron/MCT /LANDOV, John Gurzinski/Getty Images)

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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Strike That - Eight House Democrats, led by Rep. Barbara Lee, sent a letter to Obama on March 11 condemning secretive drone strikes. Other CBC co-signers included Reps. John Conyers, Donna Edwards and Keith Ellison. The letter accuses the administration of setting a "dangerous precedent" and an "increasing devolution of accountability, transparency, and Constitutional protections in U.S. counter-terrorism operations.”  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Never Say Never - Both congressional friends and foes have complained that Obama is aloof and never hangs with them. Soon they may complain of the opposite. Last week, the president dined with Senate Republicans and hosted House Budget Committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan at the White House for lunch. This week, he traveled to Capitol Hill for a mid-day meal with Senate Democrats and also met separately with House Republicans and Democrats.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Never Say Never - Both congressional friends and foes have complained that Obama is aloof and never hangs with them. Soon they may complain of the opposite. Last week, the president dined with Senate Republicans and hosted House Budget Committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan at the White House for lunch. This week, he traveled to Capitol Hill for a mid-day meal with Senate Democrats and also met separately with House Republicans and Democrats.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Don't Be a Hater - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has a 56 percent approval rating among non-whites in his state, courted African-American voters at a March 12 town hall meeting. "The purpose of spending this time together is it becomes harder to hate up close," he said, adding, "We all have our great successes and our disappointments. And as we get to know each other, it becomes a lot harder then to yell and scream at each other." (Photo: GovChristie via YouTube)

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Don't Be a Hater - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has a 56 percent approval rating among non-whites in his state, courted African-American voters at a March 12 town hall meeting. "The purpose of spending this time together is it becomes harder to hate up close," he said, adding, "We all have our great successes and our disappointments. And as we get to know each other, it becomes a lot harder then to yell and scream at each other." (Photo: GovChristie via YouTube)

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Polarized and Politicized - The Justice Department's inspector general has delivered a harsh assessment of the agency's voting rights unit. According to a report issued on March 12, it suffers from "deep ideological polarization" and a disappointing "lack of professionalism," including mistreatment among colleagues who have political differences.  (Photo: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

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Polarized and Politicized - The Justice Department's inspector general has delivered a harsh assessment of the agency's voting rights unit. According to a report issued on March 12, it suffers from "deep ideological polarization" and a disappointing "lack of professionalism," including mistreatment among colleagues who have political differences.  (Photo: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Poll Tax 2013? - Voter ID is rearing its head again in North Carolina. On March 12, Republican lawmakers held a public hearing on a proposed bill, which 75 percent of North Carolinians support, according to one poll. Free IDs would be issued, but at a cost, according to Democracy NC executive director Bob Hall. The documentation required to get a free state-issued ID, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses, he said, will "add up to a lot of money and it really does amount to a poll tax." (Photo: Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images)

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Poll Tax 2013? - Voter ID is rearing its head again in North Carolina. On March 12, Republican lawmakers held a public hearing on a proposed bill, which 75 percent of North Carolinians support, according to one poll. Free IDs would be issued, but at a cost, according to Democracy NC executive director Bob Hall. The documentation required to get a free state-issued ID, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses, he said, will "add up to a lot of money and it really does amount to a poll tax." (Photo: Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images)

Mr. 47 Percent - The identity of the man who secretly recorded Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's ill-fated "47 percent" remarks was revealed on MSNBC's The Ed Show on March 13. "It was tough and I debated for a little while but in the end I really felt like it had to be put out," said Scott Prouty, who was a bartender at the event. "I felt I owed it to the people who couldn't afford to be there themselves to hear what [Romney] really thought." (Photo: MSNBC)

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Mr. 47 Percent - The identity of the man who secretly recorded Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's ill-fated "47 percent" remarks was revealed on MSNBC's The Ed Show on March 13. "It was tough and I debated for a little while but in the end I really felt like it had to be put out," said Scott Prouty, who was a bartender at the event. "I felt I owed it to the people who couldn't afford to be there themselves to hear what [Romney] really thought." (Photo: MSNBC)

A Family Affair - Wendy Casey, 45, and son Randall, 27, have more in common than family ties. Each is running for village president, a mayor-like office, in their hometown of Dixmoor, Illinois. Living together doesn't help. “It’s been very contentious,” Casey, a community activist, told ABC affiliate WLS-TV. “We don’t speak about the election, we do not speak about politics and it’s just, ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye.’” (Photo: Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/ MCT /LANDOV)

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A Family Affair - Wendy Casey, 45, and son Randall, 27, have more in common than family ties. Each is running for village president, a mayor-like office, in their hometown of Dixmoor, Illinois. Living together doesn't help. “It’s been very contentious,” Casey, a community activist, told ABC affiliate WLS-TV. “We don’t speak about the election, we do not speak about politics and it’s just, ‘Hi’ and ‘Bye.’” (Photo: Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/ MCT /LANDOV)

Dennis Rodman on his wish to meet the next pope:  - “I want to be anywhere in the world that I’m needed… I want to spread a message of peace and love throughout the world.” (Photo: AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

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Traveling Foul - So what if North Korea is threatening to nuke the U.S.? Former NBA player Dennis Rodman has announced plans to visit again with new BFF North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in August. "I don't condone what he does, but he's my friend," Rodman told CNN affiliate KXJB. (Photo: AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Matt Sayles/ AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File

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Send Him the Bill - Real estate mogul Donald Trump has offered to cover the costs of the White House public tours, one of the sequester's early budget cut victims. The idea originally came from former House speaker and failed presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. But when Trump heard about it, his response was, "Why not?" (Photo: Dan Hallman/Invision/AP)

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Send Him the Bill - Real estate mogul Donald Trump has offered to cover the costs of the White House public tours, one of the sequester's early budget cut victims. The idea originally came from former House speaker and failed presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. But when Trump heard about it, his response was, "Why not?" (Photo: Dan Hallman/Invision/AP)

Heard That - Brooklyn, New York's Christian Cultural Center was the last stop on Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus' "listening tour" with Black Republicans. "I'm not coming here with all of the answers, but I am coming here with an open heart and an open mind and a serious drive," Priebus told a group of Black GOP activists. He will unveil findings from the listening tours on March 18. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Heard That - Brooklyn, New York's Christian Cultural Center was the last stop on Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus' "listening tour" with Black Republicans. "I'm not coming here with all of the answers, but I am coming here with an open heart and an open mind and a serious drive," Priebus told a group of Black GOP activists. He will unveil findings from the listening tours on March 18. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Culture Clash - Former Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan in an interview on the radio program Morning in America said that men in urban cities don't value hard work. "We have this tailspin of culture, in our inner cities in particular, of men not working and just generations of men not even thinking about working or learning the value and the culture of work," the House Budget Committee chairman said. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Freudian Slip - While unveiling his newest budget proposal and reiterating his opposition to Obamacare, House Budget Committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan accidentally uttered words liberals have long accused him of having in his heart. "This is something we will not give up on because we are not going to give up on destroying the health care system for the American people," Ryan said. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

High Hopes - The rapper now known as Snoop Lion famously loves marijuana. If he could light up with anyone of his choosing, former President Bill Clinton tops his list. Since he's no longer in office, Snoop said, Clinton can inhale. Obama came in at number two, although he acknowledged it wouldn't be a good look for the president "publicity-wise."  (Photo: Matthew Eisman/Getty Images)

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High Hopes - The rapper now known as Snoop Lion famously loves marijuana. If he could light up with anyone of his choosing, former President Bill Clinton tops his list. Since he's no longer in office, Snoop said, Clinton can inhale. Obama came in at number two, although he acknowledged it wouldn't be a good look for the president "publicity-wise."  (Photo: Matthew Eisman/Getty Images)