This article was written for the South Carolina Association of Counties monthly magazine:

This has been a remarkable year for South Carolina and me.  When the 110^th Congress was sworn in last January, John Spratt became Chair of the House Budget Committee and I became the House Majority Whip, the third ranking leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives.  We were both elected to our positions by unanimous votes of the House Democratic Caucus, and in my case, it is the first time a South Carolinian has ever risen to this level of leadership in the United States House.  And it is only the second time an African American has ever done so.  The importance of this achievement does not escape me. 

I am often asked, what does being the Whip mean?  I believe defining the title gives insight into the job.  The term "Whip" originated in the British Parliament, the body after which our government was patterned.  They took the term from the sport of fox hunting. Foxhunters rode horses following hounds that pursued and flushed out the foxes.  Because the hounds would sometimes get distracted and lose focus, members of the hunt were assigned to ride along side the hounds responsible for keeping the foxhounds focused on their mission. They carried whips and were called "whipper ins.”   

Essentially, I am responsible for counting the votes and helping my colleagues keep focused on our mission.  My team - this is definitely a job that no one can do alone – maintains constant communication with the members, counts votes, addresses members concerns and works to persuade our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our legislative agenda. 

A different kind of Whip:

Since assuming this position, it has been often noted that my approach is much different than some of my high profile predecessors.   It has even been written that I may be too nice a Southern gentleman to do the job effectively. Everyone seems to remember Tom Delay whose service as House Majority Whip earned him the nickname “Hammer” for his strong-armed style that seemed to have worked well for him.  But I have always maintained that we can be no more and no less than what our experiences allow us to be, and my experiences make it hard for me to believe that people would rather be coerced and threatened than to be counseled and consulted.

My approach stems from important lessons I learned in the home in which I was raised, the schools in which I was taught, and the social and political environments in which I developed.  From my father I learned that, “the first sign of a good education is good manners," and from one of my mentors, Governor John West I learned that, “you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."  From my wife I learned that, “when you win, brag gently, when you lose, weep softly,” and from my mother I learned that no matter how many times you fail, “never give up.”  And as hard as it sometimes is, I never give up on any of my colleagues.

When I became the Majority Whip last January, I had spent seven of my 14 years in Congress holding leadership positions to which I was elected by my colleagues.  I had served as President of my Freshman Class (1994), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (1999-2001), Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (2003-2006), and Chair of the House Democratic Caucus (2006).

The House Democratic Caucus is very reflective of the diversity of our nation.  We are seven distinct caucuses.  All of them are well organized with highly competent elected leadership.  We have the Asian-Pacific Islanders Caucus, the “Blue Dog” Democrats Caucus, the Progressive Caucus, the New Democrats Coalition, and the Women Working Group. Also, our 21-member Congressional Hispanic Caucus has several ethnic backgrounds, and our 42-member Congressional Black Caucus has varied backgrounds and experiences.  If one can imagine herding cats, one can get a good feel for what it may like being the House Democratic Whip.  To whip successfully one must honor and respect this make-up.  It requires a different kind of whip.

I believe, however, that my background and experiences prepared me well for this job.  My years as a teacher in the Charleston County Public Schools, Director of the Neighborhood Youth Corps, Executive Director of the South Carolina Commission for Farm Workers, Assistant to Governor John West and South Carolina Human Affairs Commissioner, have provided me a solid foundation, a good set of skills and a faith-based value system. 

While I technically represent only one sixth of South Carolina’s citizens, many of my legislative initiatives have benefited communities outside my district.  The Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor follows Highway 17 along the entire South Carolina coast.  This has been my most popular initiative, yet only small portions of the Corridor are in the Sixth Congressional District.  But tourism - and heritage tourism specifically - are extraordinarily important to our state's economy.  This is also the reason I authored legislation to create the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor.  Much of that corridor is outside of my district, but I continue to secure $1million in federal funding each year to continue generating an estimated $80 million annually for our state's economy. 

I was humbled by the invitation to address a joint session of the South Carolina General Assembly in April. While I recognized it as an historic moment, I did not dwell upon that.  Instead, I discussed initiatives I believe will benefit all South Carolinians.  I called for major investments to put South Carolina in the forefront of developing alternative energy sources.  In addition to addressing America's addiction to foreign oil, it will also boost our rural economies by creating markets for cellulosic crops that can replace our withering cotton and tobacco fields. 

I also used that speech to encourage more lottery funds for need-based scholarships.  Too many of our young graduates are being unduly and unfairly burdened by the cost of obtaining a higher education.  According to a recent Greenville News editorial, Clemson and University of South Carolina students graduate with an average of $18,000 in student loans.  Incurring this crushing debt deters many from pursuing a higher education, and often sends our most promising graduates out of state where they can find higher salaries in order to repay their loans. 

Finally, I urged lawmakers to seek a balance between our state's environment and our citizens economic needs.  Both are important and can coexist if we control our emotions, give just due to scientific research, and put proper regulations and safeguards in place at all levels of government. 

My parents had great dreams for my siblings and me.  I doubt, however, that they ever dreamed that one of their sons would one day occupy an opulent office in the U.S. Capitol with a breathtaking view down the National Mall.  It is a far cry from our earlier days growing up in Kershaw and Lee counties and on Walker Avenue and Bartlette Streets in Sumter. 

My ears often ring with the biblical admonition "to whom much is given, much is required." I am deeply humbled by the opportunities I have been given, and not a day goes by that I don't seek ways to use my position to give back.  It is my strongest desire that South Carolina will be the ultimate beneficiary of this extraordinary and unprecedented gift.