Obama Civil Rights Nominee Knew He Was Doomed But Wanted Debate, Harry Reid Says

[Tx4obama]

Obama Civil Rights Nominee Knew He Was Doomed But Wanted Debate, Harry Reid Says

WASHINGTON -- Senate Democratic leaders knew early Wednesday that they likely didn't have the votes to advance Debo Adegbile, President Barack Obama's nominee to lead the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. But hours later they went ahead and held the vote anyway -- and dealt an embarrassing blow to the White House when it failed.

So why didn't they cancel the vote and save some face? Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Adegbile himself asked Democratic leaders to proceed with the vote, win or lose.

During a Thursday sitdown with reporters, Reid said that Adegbile, a respected civil rights lawyer who previously led the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, met privately with Reid and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) for nearly an hour before the vote. The three of them went through the pros and cons of proceeding with what would likely be a loss. In the end, Adegbile said he wouldn't withdraw his name, even though Republicans and even some Democrats were ready to block him over the fact that he once helped get convicted murderer Mumia Abu-Jabal off death row.

"He said, 'I'm 47 years old. ... I've spent all my life trying to do the right thing,'" Reid said. "'I didn't step into a courtroom for this man. I didn't write a word for the briefs for this man. ... I've done nothing wrong. I think if I'm going to be voted down, it's a good time to start a discussion on civil rights in America.'"

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/06/harry-reid-debo-adegbile_n_4912790.html

[tomg]

1. That is what I want.

"Adegbile himself asked Democratic leaders to proceed with the vote, win or lose."

Either we stand for something or we don't. Rock on.

He does say ""'I didn't step into a courtroom for this man. I didn't write a word for the briefs for this man. ... I've done nothing wrong. I think if I'm going to be voted down, it's a good time to start a discussion on civil rights in America.'"

Even if he had done that, fight the fight. The right wing gets to blow up a country and not recognize their murderous ways. We might - and it is still a might - support someone from a social justice principle and be wrong and we have to grovel? I am so fucking done backing down.

[Igel]

2. He did nothing wrong.

But he's understating his involvement.

He supervised those who did the writing. As their supervisor, he'd have read what they wrote and directed them to rewrite, rephrase, or recraft their arguments.

He didn't step into the courtroom, but did sign and file 3 briefs. From what I've seen, often "stepping into the courtroom" is not where you want the action to be, nor is it most of what lawyering is about. You "step into the courtroom" for trials and retrials, and only when arguments are necessary that cannot be resolved in writing and witnesses are necessary.

While the three briefs aren't exactly the same as being neck-deep in the matter, it's not like he was just on retainer and did nothing.