Jacqueline Marcus: Sen. Specter's Forced Delay of Eric Holder Offensive to Millions of Americans

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Jacqueline Marcus

In today's The New York Times, it was reported that "Senate Republicans on Wednesday forced a one-week delay in a vote on the nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr. as attorney general, denying President Obama the chance to have a key member of his national security team in place as planned." (The New York Times 1/21/09)

Although Holder's confirmation is assured, the forced delay, led by Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, is seen as offensive to millions of Americans.

Sen. Specter and his colleagues are using Clinton's pardon of Mark Rich as an excuse to delay Holder's nomination. Specter has raised the same questions regarding the pardon of Mark Rich beyond beating a dead horse. Mr. Holder has given perfectly reasonable and reflective explanations; nothing more can be asked or said about it.

If Senator Specter and his Republican colleagues believe that they're acting on behalf of Americans who've been waiting for a true constitutional lawyer such as Eric Holder to step in and restore the Bill of Rights and the principle that "no one is above the law," they are gravely mistaken.

Indeed, Sen. Specter should take a moment or two and replay the Inaugural Address: Look at the more than two million people who stood in the freezing cold weather for two days straight to wish their new President well.

Sen. Specter's attempt to block Mr. Holder on dubious grounds is not only offensive to President Obama, but also it is incredibly offensive to all the millions and millions of people who are supporting President Obama after eight years of oppression, depression, witnessing unspeakable violations of our laws, such as the practice of torture, impeachable offenses, all since the invasion of Iraq. Where oh where was Sen. Specter when the Justice Department gave the stamp of approval to torture detainees?

It raises suspicious questions: Why is Sen. Specter so intent on delaying Holder's nomination? Could it be that Bush's Justice Department has a lot to hide and they need more time to shred, shred, and shred again the evidence of foul deeds?

For example, consider the case of Bradley J. Schlozman, a former Justice Department official entrusted with enforcing civil rights laws, who refused to hire lawyers whom he labeled as "commies" and transferred another attorney for allegedly writing in "ebonics" and benefiting from "an affirmative action thing," according to an investigation released yesterday by internal watchdogs. (The Washington Post 1/14/09)

Republicans have had it their way for eight long years and this country suffered the consequences from their UNjust policies that have favored big polluting industries at the expense of the public's health and well being.

In the last two days, reports have been issued about the life-threatening outbreaks of salmonella in some peanut butter products. What the media is NOT telling the public is that Bush lifted over 400 health and safety regulations, favoring the corporations over the public's health. There have been countless cases of salmonella in this country since Bush lifted essential regulations that were put in place to protect the public.

If Sen. Specter's decision to delay Eric Holder's nomination disturbs you, then call his office (202/224-4254) and tell him to stand aside and let President Obama do his work for the people. It's offensive to hold back Holder during a time of urgent crisis when we must make the necessary changes in our Justice Department, starting with restoring our constitutional rights! 

A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION

Jacqueline Marcus is the author of Close to the Shore (poems) Michigan State University Press and editor of ForPoetry.com. Her political commentaries/letters have been published in BuzzFlash.com, CommonDreams.org, Slate, The Washington Post, New Times' cover story: "The Politics of Restraint" and elsewhere. She taught philosophy at Cuesta College and is currently working on promoting solar energy on the Hawaiian Islands. jackiemarcus@justice.com.

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