In Tuesday's confirmation hearings on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court Senator Jeff Sessions, discussing Sotomayor's vote not to rehear en banc the appeal in Ricci v. DeStefano, made the following statement to the judge:
"You voted not to reconsider the prior case. You voted to stay with the decision of the circuit. And in fact your vote was the key vote. Had you voted with Judge Cabranes, himself of Puerto Rican ancestry, had you voted with him, you could've changed that case."
This comment by Sessions can be viewed here, in a posting that also notes that Judge Cabranes also served on the board of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. Why is that relevant? Sessions has ciritcized Sotomayor for serving on that very same board.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
On Senator Jeff Sessions
A recent POLITICO story on Senator Jeff Sessions notes the Senate's rejection of his nomination to the federal bench in 1986:
"During the 1986 confirmation process, Sessions was accused of unfairly targeting black civil rights workers for election fraud charges as a federal prosecutor. A black lawyer under Sessions in the U.S. attorney's office accused him of saying he thought the Ku Klux Klan was 'OK' until he found out some of its members were 'pot smokers.'
"But the confirmation process also revealed that Sessions had once called the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union 'un-American' and 'communist-inspired.'
"Sessions . . . told POLITICO that those comments were made in a private conversation he had with an African-American on his staff in the U.S. attorney's office--and that they were taken out of context."
"During the 1986 confirmation process, Sessions was accused of unfairly targeting black civil rights workers for election fraud charges as a federal prosecutor. A black lawyer under Sessions in the U.S. attorney's office accused him of saying he thought the Ku Klux Klan was 'OK' until he found out some of its members were 'pot smokers.'
"But the confirmation process also revealed that Sessions had once called the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union 'un-American' and 'communist-inspired.'
"Sessions . . . told POLITICO that those comments were made in a private conversation he had with an African-American on his staff in the U.S. attorney's office--and that they were taken out of context."
"Whose Identity Politics?"
From Eugene Robinson's column in the Washington Post:
"Republicans' outrage, both real and feigned, at [Supreme Court nominee Sonia] Sotomayor's musings about her identity as a 'wise Latina' might affect her judicial decisions is based on a flawed assumption: that whiteness and maleness are not themselves facets of a distinct identity. Being male and white is seen instead as a neutral condition, the natural order of things. Any 'identity'--black, brown, female, gay, whatever--has to be judged against this supposedly 'objective' standard. . . . Thus it is irrelevant if Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. talks abut the impact of his background as the son of Italian immigrants on his rulings--as he did at his confirmation hearings--but unforgivable for Sotomayor to mention that her Puerto Rican family history might be relevant to her work."
"Republicans' outrage, both real and feigned, at [Supreme Court nominee Sonia] Sotomayor's musings about her identity as a 'wise Latina' might affect her judicial decisions is based on a flawed assumption: that whiteness and maleness are not themselves facets of a distinct identity. Being male and white is seen instead as a neutral condition, the natural order of things. Any 'identity'--black, brown, female, gay, whatever--has to be judged against this supposedly 'objective' standard. . . . Thus it is irrelevant if Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. talks abut the impact of his background as the son of Italian immigrants on his rulings--as he did at his confirmation hearings--but unforgivable for Sotomayor to mention that her Puerto Rican family history might be relevant to her work."
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Audra Shay's Facebook Postings
Audra Shay is now the incoming chair of the Young Republicans. For where she stands on the electon of President Obama (e.g., "Obama Bin Lauden [sic] is the new terrorist" and her reference to "Obama in a noose") check out this Daily Beast story.
Attacking The Obama Children
Racism Review has an interesting post that begins: "Just when you think the racist right has reached its low point, some hyper-racist folks there show they can go yet lower." A photo in the New York Post showed Malia Obama wearing a shirt with a peace sign. Check out the post for the rabid, racist, and reactionary comments made by some of the "brave" anonymous fools out there in cyberspace. And check out some other comments noted in the post, including: "We're being represented by a family of ghetto trash." "Looks like a typical street whore." "Wonder when she will have her first abortion."
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Richard Nixon On Neccesary Abortions
President Richard Nixon, speaking to an aide in 1973 on the day following the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade: "There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white. . . . Or a rape."
The Bombing Of A Diversity Office
From That Minority Thing: "Twin brothers from Illinois who authorities say are white supremacists have been charged in a 2004 bombing that injured the black diversity director in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale."
"What Are Those Black Kids Doing Here?"
The Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission has indicated that it will investigate allegations that the Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania discriminated against a group of minority children who were swimming at the club's pool. According to Alethea Wright, the director of a Creative Steps, a summer camp for minority children, her organization paid for weekly swim time at the pool. While at the pool on June 29, "A couple of the children ran down saying, 'Miss Wright, Miss Wright, they're up they're saying, 'What are those black kinds doing here?'" Wright said that club members pulled their children out of the pool. The club later refunded the camp's payment. Wright has stated that some of the children have asked if they are "too dark" to swim in the pool. The club president has denied any wrongdoing.
Are The Indiana Pacers Too White?
That question was posed by Bob Kravitz in a column in the Indianapolis Star. "In a league where little more than 10 percent of the players are white Americans, the Pacers roster is racially split down the middle, making them one of the whitest teams in the league." Larry Bird, Pacers president and former NBA star, said, "I don't see race at all."
In 2004 the colorblind Bird, responding to the question whether the National Basketball Associaton could benefit from having more white players, said: "Well, I think so. . . . I think it's good for a fan base becase, as we all know, the majority of the fans are white America. And if you had just a couple of white guys in there, you might get them a little excited." He also said, during his playing days, that he was insulted when he was guarded by a white player.
"I don't see race at all."
In 2004 the colorblind Bird, responding to the question whether the National Basketball Associaton could benefit from having more white players, said: "Well, I think so. . . . I think it's good for a fan base becase, as we all know, the majority of the fans are white America. And if you had just a couple of white guys in there, you might get them a little excited." He also said, during his playing days, that he was insulted when he was guarded by a white player.
"I don't see race at all."
The Horrible Burr Oak Cemetery Story
From the Chicago Tribune:
"Authorities today sharply increased the estimate of the number of bodeis disinterred at Burr Oak Cemetery in southwest suburban Alsip in a scheme to illegaly resell grave sites.
"Two to 300 bodies were dug up and dumped into an isolted, weedy area of the cemetery, where many prominent African-Americans are buried, including Emmett Till."
"Authorities today sharply increased the estimate of the number of bodeis disinterred at Burr Oak Cemetery in southwest suburban Alsip in a scheme to illegaly resell grave sites.
"Two to 300 bodies were dug up and dumped into an isolted, weedy area of the cemetery, where many prominent African-Americans are buried, including Emmett Till."
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Khadijah Williams Is Going To Harvard
Khadijah Williams, age 18. Homeless; attended 12 schools in 12 years; lived out of garbage bags. Marked by teachers as gifted at age 9. From her college application essay: "I have felt the anger at having to catch up in school . . . being bullied because they knew I was poor, different, and read too much. I knew that if I wanted to become a smart, successful scholar, I should talk to other smart people."
Ms. Williams has been admitted to Harvard.
Ms. Williams has been admitted to Harvard.
Major League Baseball's Civil Rights Game
Major League Baseball's Gillette Civil Rights Game was played Saturday night in Cincinnati, Ohio. MLB's homepage coverage of the game and related events can be seen here.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Michelle Obama Likened To A Gorilla
A recent Facebook report noted that a gorilla had escaped from a zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. This from South Carolina Republican Rusty DePass: "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors--probably harmless."
When busted for this racist and supremacist idiocy, DePass gave one of those anticipated and ridiculous "apologies": "I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest." Yeah, that's funny. Hilarious.
When busted for this racist and supremacist idiocy, DePass gave one of those anticipated and ridiculous "apologies": "I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest." Yeah, that's funny. Hilarious.
Hate Items For Sale
Want to buy a "Scott Roeder American Hero" design? Or an "Impeach Barack Obama" poster complete with a picture of an assault weapon? Crooks and Liars reports on this sickness.
Sherri Goforth's Racist E-Mail About President Obama
Check out this story (and picture) on an e-mail sent by Sherri Goforth, an administrative assistant to Tennessee state Senator Diane Black, to other Republican staffers. The e-mail has portraits of the first 43 presidents; President Obama is depicted as two white eyes set against a black background.
Was Goforth (who said that she sent the e-mail "to the wrong list of people")fired? Nope.
Was Goforth (who said that she sent the e-mail "to the wrong list of people")fired? Nope.
"The ugly consequences of open hatred"
A recent column by Leonard Pitts begins with the following quotes:
"Them Jews aren't going to let [President Obama] talk to me.": Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
"I hate gay people . . .": Tim Hardaway, former NBA player.
"She's frightening. And she's racist.": former Christian Coalition executive director Dennis Baxley on Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
"Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.": Glenn Beck to Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim
"Fifty years ago they'd have you hanging upside down with a [expletive] fork up your [expletive].": Michael Richards ("Seinfeld's" Kramer).
From the column:
"We act as if it were all a game, as if it means nothing when people of position and visibility spew garbage, validating and galvanizing the unhinged and the disaffected who need little encouragement to believe all their problems are caused by Them. We act as if we do not toy with fire when people of authority claim white Christians are a vicimized minority or Hispanics a threatening and faceless Other. We act as if we were not heirs and witnesses to a blood-soaked history that tells us exactly where this hate some of us so fecklessly stoke will logically, inevitably lead."
"Them Jews aren't going to let [President Obama] talk to me.": Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
"I hate gay people . . .": Tim Hardaway, former NBA player.
"She's frightening. And she's racist.": former Christian Coalition executive director Dennis Baxley on Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
"Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.": Glenn Beck to Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim
"Fifty years ago they'd have you hanging upside down with a [expletive] fork up your [expletive].": Michael Richards ("Seinfeld's" Kramer).
From the column:
"We act as if it were all a game, as if it means nothing when people of position and visibility spew garbage, validating and galvanizing the unhinged and the disaffected who need little encouragement to believe all their problems are caused by Them. We act as if we do not toy with fire when people of authority claim white Christians are a vicimized minority or Hispanics a threatening and faceless Other. We act as if we were not heirs and witnesses to a blood-soaked history that tells us exactly where this hate some of us so fecklessly stoke will logically, inevitably lead."
Frank Rich On Haters
Recommended: this Frank Rich op-ed. Interestingly, Rich notes Fox News anchor Shephard Smith's comments on the frightening and hateful e-mails Smith has received and the Americans who are, in Smith's words, "out there in a scary place."
Changes To The Texas Top Ten Percentage Plan
The legislature of the state of Texas has voted to change the program under which graduates in the top 10 percent of their high schools were automatically admitted to the Texas university of their choice. The law caps the number of top ten percenters at three-fourths of a university's incoming class.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
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