The Congressional Black Caucus engages in Judical Racism(Bush Judical Appointment Alert)

The Washington Times ^ | 28 January 2003 | Tueblackman

[Trueblackman]

Norton vows to 'do all we can' to defeat bid

D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton said yesterday she opposes the nomination of Miguel Estrada to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Congressional Black Caucus said it is poised to do likewise.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on President Bush's nominee, who has received the highest rating from the American Bar Association and has the support of several Hispanic groups.

"We certainly are opposed to Miguel Estrada, like so many of our Hispanic colleagues," Mrs. Norton told reporters yesterday, during a break from the caucus's daylong legislative strategy and planning meeting for the new session.

Mrs. Norton — a Democrat and the caucus's point person on judges — said they "will do all we can to work with other members of Congress ... to defeat" Mr. Estrada's nomination.

"We have taken no formal vote," said caucus Chairman Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Maryland Democrat. "However, I have talked to the chair of the Hispanic Caucus ... and I anticipate that we will jointly come out against Estrada within the next few days."

Neither Mr. Cummings nor Mrs. Norton would give the reasoning behind the opposition until the caucus takes an official position.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund came out in opposition to Mr. Estrada yesterday.

Marisa J. Demeo, the group's D.C. regional counsel, said Mr. Estrada "comes with a predisposition to view claims of racial discrimination and unfair treatment with suspicion and doubt instead of with an open mind."

Mrs. Norton said that personally, she would support a Senate filibuster of Mr. Estrada's nomination. She said Senate Democrats cannot possibly filibuster every one of the president's judicial nominations, so senators want to know which ones the caucus thinks are "the worst of the worst." She said Mr. Estrada's nomination is "near the top of our list."

Mr. Estrada is part of a group of the president's judicial nominees who never received votes in the Democratic-controlled Senate last session and were renominated by the president earlier this month.

Several Hispanic groups support Mr. Estrada, including the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Hispanic Business Roundtable.

"I am convinced that this first Hispanic member of the D.C. Circuit will continue to lead a distinguished career with thoughtful and fair decisions," Roundtable President Mario Rodriguez said in a July 2001 letter of support.

Meanwhile, Mr. Cummings said the caucus's overall legislative agenda for this Congress includes health care reform, fully funding education, protecting retirement security, guaranteeing that every vote will be counted during elections, creating more jobs, and approving federal judges who are committed to protecting civil rights.

Ours is an American agenda," he said, adding that the caucus will work closely with House Democratic leaders and with Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, South Dakota Democrat.

[Trueblackman]

Comments

[Howlin]

Pathetic, aren't they? And so obvious.

[princess leah]

RACISTS ~ they are against Hispanics and want to keep them in the fields!

[talleyman]

I'm shocked </sarcasm>

[Aaron0617]

Marisa J. Demeo, the group's D.C. regional counsel, said Mr. Estrada "comes with a predisposition to view claims of racial discrimination and unfair treatment with suspicion and doubt instead of with an open mind."

What does all that mean? Why are they against him?

I suggest they come up with a better reason for a Senator to filibust a Judicial appointee than that.

[Mo1]

Fine .. Let's get it ON RECORD just how they all vote ..

I'm sure the Voters would like to see

[ken5050]

Hi Kevin.....just wanted to take the time to extend congrats on your recent mission against Sen. Byrd..and BTW...a very nice tie on TV.....what's the latest on the new office?

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Southack]

"Mrs. Norton said that personally, she would support a Senate filibuster of Mr. Estrada's nomination. She said Senate Democrats cannot possibly filibuster every one of the president's judicial nominations..."

Bring it on!

[Trueblackman]

We are working on something. Hush Hush!!!

[anniegetyourgun]

It's worse than pathetic. Estrada is one of the most qualified nominees this president has put forward. I can only assume the CBC and lib/dems in general hate Hispanics. There can be no other logical reason....except bald-faced, raw politicking. Gee....ya' think, maybe?

[freekitty]

Duh.

[Sender]

Bush could nominate Jesus, Gandhi and Mother Theresa and the reaction from dems would be the same.

[PianoMan]

If Hispanics start to see the blacks in government as their enemy, it seems only logical that we'd start getting serious defections to the Republicans. If the Rs appoint two hispanic SCOTUS justices who are virulently opposed by blacks, perhaps we could see a serious change in the voting habits of this demographic.

[ken5050]

As long as you don't chain yourself to Byrd's leg.....actually I think the strategy you should pursue is the fact that when the Dems were in the majority, Byrd, as President Pro Tempore of the Senate, was in theory 4th in line for the Presidency. The Dems should be required to remove Byrd from consideration for that position, should they ever retake the majority.. and thus, out of the line of succession...a former KKK member should not occupy the Oval Office..that, IMHO, would really put the screws to Byrd and the Dems....

[Weimdog]

Not one word as to why they will oppose Estrada.

Obstructionist, plain and simple.

[gakrak]

What a sorry bunch! They will be against any nominee for W's. As for their agenda-- fully funding education, they really mean fully funding teachers salary's at a CEO level!!!

[concerned about politics]

When they have nothing, they find someone to pull out the race card. Democrats are so transparent.
Let's hope Bush adds this to his state of the union address. What the heck. Kick the Democrats while they're down.

[Dionysius]

H. Rap Brown for SCOTUS!

[concerned about politics]

Democrats don't seem to want blacks or hispanics in powerful places.
Sure, they hire a few into irrelavant positions, but they're overall pro-white elitism - like Nazi Germany.