When the Obama administration wakes up next month to a divided capital, no cabinet member will be facing a more miserable prospect of oversight hearings and subpoenas than Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.
Mr. Holder is a particularly juicy target because he presides over issues that have served as recurrent fodder for political controversy — including using the criminal justice system for terrorism cases, and federal enforcement of civil rights and immigration laws.
While stirred up controversies like the one about the New Black Panther Party didn't pan out for them, Republicans have nevertheless been on the hunt for something that would take down AG Holder. At this point, they think they've found that something in a controversy that the MSM and progressive blogs are pretty completely ignoring...the Arizona ATF's Fast and Furious operation. As the Daily Caller notes today, eight Republican House members have now called for Holder's resignation.
While they've not yet grown this thing into a full-fledged scandal, I have every confidence that they'll keep trying. As the article from the NYT says, these folks see AG Holder as a threat to some things that are very important issues to them - terrorism cases, federal enforcement of civil rights, and immigration laws.
In the tab up at the top of this blog titled "DOJ Watch," I've been documenting some of the things Holder and the DOJ have been doing with regards to these issues. The list is long, including tackling police brutality, prosecuting the police murders on the Danzinger Bridge following Katrina, negotiating a settlement between the Dept. of Agriculture and African American farmers, fighting for the Fair Sentencing Act (and its application retroactively), prosecuting banks for reverse redlining, investigating racial profiling, protecting women's access to health care clinics, prosecuting draconian immigration laws, and challenging the Texas anti-Hispanic redistricting plan.
Of course AG Holder has also been in the forefront of taking on Congress over their legislation to block of the administration from shutting down Guantanamo and dealing with the public outcry over his proposal to try detainees in civilian courts.
These are all issues that should lead progressives to stand firmly behind him as these attacks mount. But there is virtual silence on the left, and worse, the potential for the poutragers to join with the right in calling for his resignation. That is fueled by the left's anger at Holder for 3 things:
1. He didn't prosecute Bush/Cheney for torture,
2. They think he hasn't done enough to prosecute people responsible for the financial collapse, and
3. The DOJ's mixed messages on going after businesses that sell medical marijuana in states where that is legal.
While I agree with the third criticism, what fuels the first two is an ignorance about the possibilities. For example, in 2009 Congress passed the Military Commissions Act which pretty much eviscerated the possibility of prosecutions for U.S. torture. And the sad reality is that much of what Wall Street did to create the 2008 economic crash was legal.
So while much of the left is focused on being angry with our Attorney General for things he could never accomplish, they have completely ignored the important work he is doing that has led the right to go after him with a vengeance.
As things heat up for AG Holder with accusations from the right, I hope the Obama administration will stand behind him 100%. I know that I will.
"So while much of the left is focused on being angry with our Attorney General for things he could never accomplish, they have completely ignored the important work he is doing that has led the right to go after him with a vengeance. "
ReplyDeleteNot surprising since this is exactly the way they treat President Obama. Thank you for bringing this situation to our attention. Perhaps we should start writing, calling, tweeting the White House voicing our support for the AG
Political observation - there have only been two federal departments under the Obama Administration that the Republican party and conservatives have gone after from Day 1.
ReplyDelete1. Justice Department
2. EPA
You can't listen to conservatives without them complaining incessantly about "something" either of these departments have purportedly done. They claim that "EPA regulations" are destroying the private sector and the Justice Department is "corrupt"
And the MSM happily laps up their lies and "reports" this crap as news.
But there's one thing I've noticed, which the Left won't touch. The Justice Department and EPA are both run by black officials. To me, it's not just coincidence that they have been targeted viciously by Republicans.
If I'm off base, then I would challenge political analysts to demonstrate other federal agencies (which are run by white officials) that have been targeted in a similar way by Republicans.
But I know that they can't. The data is there and the evidence is clear. Just like our black president, the Republicans despise Eric Holder and Lisa Jackson because of what they represent.
God help us if Democrats choose to not vote next November.
I'm in California and I'm waiting for more real info on #3 before I freak out. I know there's way more product going thru SOME dispensaries than can be justified by patient records. But by not being clear about what the DOJ is going after leaves them open to rampant rumour mongering. Personally I thing a part of it is tracking cartel involvement.
ReplyDeleteBut on the DC level don't forget the moles Bush left behind and the fact that the senate is holding up appointments of department heads. The DOJ (and the rest of the cabinet for that matter) is understaffed.
The left does not care about minority issues so they won't have his back because of the three you listed.
ReplyDeleteFast and Furious occurred under the bush admin and Issa was holding on to the information. It coming out the Issa is full of crap. I would not be surprised if Rep. Cummings is leaking the info on Issa to the press. I have his back.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, smarty! The poutragers quite literally ignore 100% of every single positive thing President Barack Hussein Obama, and his appointees do. It's been weird to me, especially since it started before the guy was even sworn in!
ReplyDeleteYour DOJ Watch will be extremely important in this environment, and I hope you can keep it going strong. Thanks again! -bonkers