In the flurry of legislative deals and campaign rhetoric last week, some might have overlooked the importance of last week’s historic meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

It was the first meeting of the CBC since Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the only Senate member of the Black Caucus, clinched the Democratic presidential nomination.

The CBC is more powerful than ever, having members who run the ethics, Ways and Means, Homeland Security and Judiciary panels.

Many CBC members backed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) for president, so Obama had his work cut out in trying to unify the caucus while also showing respect for its elder statesmen.

Obama started the meeting on an inclusive note, telling members who had supported Clinton “that was then, and this is now,” according to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).

As reported by The Hill, Obama handled some tough questions. Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), who backed Clinton, noted that the Democratic Party needs time to heal after such a divisive primary.

Obama made clear to Watson and others in the private meeting that the time to heal is now if Democrats want to win the White House.

“Look, Diane,” he said, according to a participant, “John McCain, if he’s elected, is going to pick a Supreme Court that will roll back every gain women have made in the last 50 years.”

The CBC source commented later: “He can be pretty direct. It was a pretty lively meeting.”

While Obama seemed to take charge of the meeting, he also listened to criticism from Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.).

Ellison, a CBC member who is Muslim, was very upset that the Obama campaign last week ordered two women wearing head scarves to move their seats so they would not be in the backdrop of Obama’s speech.

Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), who chairs the CBC, tried to quiet Ellison by banging her gavel. But Obama said he wanted to hear Ellison out.

Ellison finished his argument, and Obama noted that it was volunteers, not paid campaign staffers, who called on the women to move.

Yet Obama agreed that it was a mistake and personally called the women to apologize.  

The CBC meeting was a test of Obama’s leadership. And while there are many hurdles to come, Obama appears to have passed that test.