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Posted on 12/10/2004 11:30:13 PM PST by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - A black conservative group is applauding President Bush's recent appointments to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to replace Chairwoman Mary Frances Berry and Vice Chairman Cruz Reynoso, whose terms expired in early December.
Bush chose Gerald A. Reynolds, a former civil rights official with the Education Department, to serve as the commission's new chairman, and Ashley Taylor, a former deputy attorney general for Virginia, to serve on the commission. Serving Commissioner Abigail Thernstrom will be the new vice chairman. Kenneth Marcus, another former civil rights official at the Education Department, was also named the commission's new staff director.
"With the selection of Gerald Reynolds and Ashley Taylor, the once-venerable U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is finally able to begin a sorely needed restructuring and rebirth," said Project 21 member Donald E. Scoggins in a statement.
"By appointing these highly-qualified individuals, President Bush illustrates his genuine commitment to the protection of all citizens. In these assignments, there is also reason to anticipate that this organization will once again become apolitical and professional in scope," Scoggins added.
Project 21 said the commission, under Berry's leadership "became recognized more for her divisive and political behavior and allegations of mismanagement than for its mission to investigate potential civil rights problems.
The group said Berry "frequently ignored" input from commissioners she didn't agree with and "even refused to seat Bush-appointed commissioner Peter Kirsanow until ordered to do so by an appeals court."
Project 21 also pointed to an investigation by the Government Accountability Office which found the commission was an "agency in disarray" which regularly continually disobeyed budgetary guidelines.
"It's well past time the Civil Rights Commission gets back to business, as opposed to the constant playing of partisan politics fostered during her tenure," said Project 21 member Michael King in a statement.
"Contrary to the constant bickering that Berry and her cohorts in groups such as the NAACP have fostered, there is much the Commission can constructively deal with as our nation moves forward. The Commission is now in a position to provide true leadership," King added.
In his first action as chairman, Reynolds plans to move forward with a financial audit of the commission.
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ping
Hey, good to see you are getting some attention in the news.
Refusing to abolish an administrative agency that duplicates the functions-to the letter-already being carried out under the auspices of the DOJ, just goes to show you how far short George W. Bush has fallen of the goals set for him by hopeful fiscal conservatives when he won the GOP nomination four years ago.
Despite some of his impressive accomplishments in the area of furthering original intent-as far as the U.S. Constitution is concerned-and achieving racial harmony, he has been unwilling to slay the beast of an ever-encroaching, ever-expanding federal government.
This simply confirms that fact.
Kinda like Reagan.
This agency should be abolished for the reasons you say, but the media would be bitching about it for four years. Bush shouldn't care, but it'll piss off the likes of COlin Powell. At a time when Republicans are trying to make inroads with minority voters, it's not a surprise. And to be honest, I can't get all that worked up about it; whether it stays or goes has only the most minute effect on the size of government.
Eliminating one relatively inconsequential federal agency won't stem the irreversible slight into statism.
However, it would be a symbolic statement of principles.
Just like it would have been highly symbolic-at the very least-for President Bush to veto one patently unconstitutional bill passed by the U.S. Congress during his first term in office.
I would vote for someone who ran on a platform of cutting government programs that some people wanted kept in place. But I don't expect such a candidate to win. And if he did I don't feel very confident he'd live up to his promises.
When an office assumes so much power that the people contesting it are forced to lie, cheat, steal, etc., in order to achieve it, there is too much power being vested in that office.
If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)
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That's true. Also, Bush would have to spend some of his prized "political capital" to get rid of it. And in a year when he wants to pursue the war on terrorism, nominate judges, reform SS and the tax code, do something about immigration policy, etc., I just don't want him to bother with a fight like that.
These other things are just too important.
I thought Chairwoman Mary Frances Berry would have to first be removed from the commission kicking and screaming before any of Dubya's replacements could take her spot.
I appreciate it.
I'll look into this group.
-good times, G.J.P.(Jr.)
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