Congressman Plays Race Card in Traffic Stop

A member of Congress, driving late at night, gets stopped for a traffic citation. Of course, it's because he's black:

CHICAGO (CBS) ― U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-7th District) said Wednesday he was the victim of racial profiling.

CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, the congressman insists the only reason he was pulled over by Chicago police is because he is black.

"I hope that this was some kind of isolated instance, but I know in my heart of hearts, I know that it's not," Davis said.

The congressman said he was driving three friends home early Monday morning when two white Chicago police officers pulled him over and said he had swerved over the center line before making a left turn from Kedzie onto Douglas Boulevard.

The congressman was nailed with a $75 ticket and a date in traffic court on Dec. 28. He denies doing anything wrong.

"There was just no reason I could conjure up other than the fact that there were four black people in a car," he said.

I'm sorry, but this doesn't pass the smell test. The guy is out driving very early in the morning and is seen swerving across the center line. The article doesn't even bother to ask the obvious question: Had the congressmen been drinking? People swerving across traffic lines that early in the morning are often doing so because they're intoxicated.

My guess is that the possibility the cops thought he was a drunk driver was much more a factor in the stop than anything else. I'm wondering if they cut him a break with a ticket instead of a DUI. His accusations may open himself up to the release of information about his stop that he'd rather not have get out.