Stamped as my profile picture is the image of Debo Adegbile. Debo is Nigerian-American. He is President Obamas nominee for Deputy Attorney General, Civil Rights Division. Today, seven Senate Democrats joined all 44 Senate Republicans to vote against Adegbiles confirmation. The seven Senate Democrats are: Chris Coons (Delware), Bob Casey (Pennsylvania), Mark Pryor (Arkansas), Heidi Heitkamp (North Dakota), Joe Manchin (West Virginia), Joe Donnolly (Indiana), and John Walsh (Montana). Debos crime: As a lawyer, Debo spent more than a decade working for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, where he served as the group’s in-house voting rights expert. In that period of time, Debo participated in an appeal filed on behalf of Mumia Abu-Jamal, an internationally known prisoner convicted of the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer, Daniel Faulkner. The legal defense fund began its work on Abu-Jamals behalf well before Adegbile began working for it, however he did contribute to the filing of a 2009 court brief that argued that Abu-Jamal faced a discriminatory jury -- an appeal later found to have merit by a judge. It is that participation in Abu-Jamals appeals, opponents have argued, that should disqualify Debo from holding any publicly appointed position in the justice system. Other than that, even Adegbiles staunchest detractors admit that his lengthy resume and brilliant legal career -- which includes twice defending the Voting Rights Act before the U.S. Supreme Court -- makes him the perfectly qualified candidate for the post. Hold a second! Another American lawyer had assisted in the defense of a death-row inmate known as John Errol Ferguson. Ferguson killed eight people. But the same Senate of the United States confirmed the nomination of that lawyer into the Supreme Court of the United States. That lawyer is John Roberts, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. In representing people like John Ferguson and Mumia Abu-Jamal, Chief Justice Roberts and Mr. Adegbile were doing what attorneys everywhere are trained and sworn to do, especially in death-penalty cases. It is a cardinal principle of constitutional law to ensure that a defendant has adequate representation and that their trial, conviction, and sentence have constitutional integrity. So, why is Debo Adegbiles case different. One can understand Republicans voting against a fine gentleman - thats what the current breed of cowards who call themselves Republicans shamelessly do. But Democrats? It is a shame! And all seven Senate Democrats should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. This is nothing but the lynching of an eminently qualified nominee at the shrine of political expedience. For those Democrats, you have permanently lost my vote, and I will urge all men and women of conscience and goodwill to vote for your primary opponents. This is a travesty!
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:51:13 +0000
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