Seeing Slavery in Liberalism

NY Times ^ | June 9, 2005 | DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

[neverdem]

WASHINGTON, June 8 - Janice Rogers Brown, the African-American daughter of Alabama sharecroppers who was confirmed Wednesday to the federal appeals court here, often invokes slavery in describing what she sees as the perils of liberalism.

"In the heyday of liberal democracy, all roads lead to slavery," she has warned in speeches. Society and the courts have turned away from the founders' emphasis on personal responsibility, she has argued, toward a culture of government regulation and dependency that threatens fundamental freedoms.

"We no longer find slavery abhorrent," she told the conservative Federalist Society a few years ago. "We embrace it." She explained in another speech, "If we can invoke no ultimate limits on the power of government, a democracy is inevitably transformed into a kleptocracy - a license to steal, a warrant for oppression."

To her critics, such remarks are evidence of extremism. This week, some Senate Democrats have even singled her out as the most objectionable of President Bush's more than 200 judicial nominees, citing her criticism of affirmative action and abortion rights but most of all her sweeping denunciations of New Deal legal precedents that enabled many federal regulations and social programs - developments she has called "the triumph of our socialist revolution."

Her friends and supporters say her views of slavery underpin her judicial philosophy. It was her study of that history, they say, combined with her evangelical Christian faith and her self-propelled rise from poverty that led her to abandon the liberal views she learned from her family.

"We discuss things like, 'How did slavery happen?' " said her friend and mentor Steve Merksamer, a lawyer in Sacramento, Calif. "It comes down to the fact that she believes, as I do, that some things are, in fact, right...

[concerned about politics]

"In the heyday of liberal democracy, all roads lead to slavery," she has warned in speeches. Society and the courts have turned away from the founders' emphasis on personal responsibility, she has argued, toward a culture of government regulation and dependency that threatens fundamental freedoms.

I like this woman. She's right.

[Once-Ler]

"A Whiter Shade of Pale - Sense and Nonsense" - Speech by Janice Rogers Brown ro the Federalist Society on April 20, 2000

[adam_az]

Sounds to me like she'd make a fine Chief Justice. ;)

[FeeinTennessee]

To Janice R. Brown.....

Preach it sista!!!

[neverdem]

Paul Sakuma/Associated Press
Janice Rogers Brown, photographed in 2004, said in one speech that a government without limits on its power has "a warrant for oppression."

[neverdem]

[Cat loving Texan]

Liberalism has created the new slavery by destroying the black family creating a dependance on government. Analysis is absolutely dead on. Meanwhile destroying the school system has created a dumbed down class. Why more of the black community hasn't figured this out is baffling.

[okie01]

She was born Janice Olivia Allen in Greenville, Ala., in 1949...

As one who is familiar with this part of Alabama, this woman has come a long, lonnnnnnng way.

[John Lenin]

Wow, I'd like to see her have a debate with the wtich, Hitlery. She'd chew her up and spit her out.

[concerned about politics]

Meanwhile destroying the school system has created a dumbed down class. Why more of the black community hasn't figured this out is baffling.

I think they're catching on. Those who aren't permanently trapped in Democrat cages are opening up their hearts to the truth. They see what the democrat agenda has done to their families.

[Ron in Acreage]

The truth always hurts.

[GloriaJane]

Now, if we could just get more like her....

[FeeinTennessee]

Many blacks are getting the picture about democrats and liberalism. There is still hope. Especially when the Dems have Howard Dean at the helm, and the continued support of abortion and homosexuality by the Dem party. Many blacks don't support those issues.

[zencycler]

Of course slavery leads to liberalism:

Just compare the 19th Century view of African Americans to those of the 21st Century Slaveholder

19th: You must serve your master (Plantation Owner), or you'll lose your life.

21st: You must serve your master (Democrat Party), or you'll lose your black authenticity.

19th: Don't hope for a better life. There is no hope. But don't worry, cause as long as you serve you master, you master will take care of you.

21st: Ditto

19th: Cohesive slave families could be dangerous. It'd encourage learning and independence, and possibly lead to them leaving the plantation. Good thing I've established policies that result in the destruction of their families, so they'll always depend on me.

21st: Ditto

19th: Those other folks (the North), they don't really care about you. Freedom? Independence? So what? They won't give you food. They won't give you shelter. They won't provide for you the way I will. Why would you want to go to them?

21st: Those other folks (the Republicans), they ... (ditto)

[Mo1]

The only Dem to vote yes was Nelson from Neb. ????

[television is just wrong]

they can't figure it out, cause they've been dumbed down beyond the point of recovery.

[rdb3]

they can't figure it out, cause they've been dumbed down beyond the point of recovery.

And you don't sound very bright yourself.

[goldstategop]

When will blacks get off the Liberal Plantation? The Left looks on them as house bound n*gger slaves and any black who gets too uppity gets loaded to bear like Janice Rodgers Brown.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Pharmboy]

This remarkable woman is the dems' worst nightmare...worse than Condi, worse than Sowell. The kind of power she can wield in the DC Circuit cannot be ignored. I love her.