Justice Department lawyers concluded that the landmark Texas congressional redistricting plan spearheaded by Rep. Tom DeLay (R) violated the Voting Rights Act, according to a previously undisclosed memo obtained by The Washington Post. But senior officials overruled them and approved the plan.
The memo, unanimously endorsed by six lawyers and two analysts in the department’s voting section, said the redistricting plan illegally diluted black and Hispanic voting power in two congressional districts. It also said the plan eliminated several other districts in which minorities had a substantial, though not necessarily decisive, influence in elections.
“The State of Texas has not met its burden in showing that the proposed congressional redistricting plan does not have a discriminatory effect,” the memo concluded.
Well, and I suppose that’s what happens when you expect that laws against discrimination are meant to be obeyed instead of flagrantly disregarded in an attempt to disempower black and Hispanic voters, because they’re so damn persistent in their refusal to vote against their interests.
I don’t have much to say about this besides the usual stomping around and exploding with profane statements about Tom DeLay and his mother. It’s not hard to take this redistricting thing a bit personally, since so much of it was aimed at slicing up Austin like a side of beef. So I’ll leave it at that–fuck the Republicans.
4 Responses to “Justice Department staff caught seeking justice instead of partisan gain”
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Your right, the abuses were beyond flagrant.
Usually the DoJ will back off if a plan is just a bit smelly. It is a state prerogative to district itself. But when they stink to high heaven, something has to be said. Of course, in this case, the Slavemaster spoke, so the cronies rolled any way.
If ever there was a case of hubris and nemesis, this is it. New internet acronym FTR?!
Sing it, Sister!
And may I just add that Michael McCaul in particular can kiss my lily-white ass? I’m stuck in the new District 10, along with LaGrange, for gossake. We had a late-entry write-in as the sole Democrat on the first ballot after redistricting. I nearly cried when I realized it was the first time since I started voting that I couldn’t vote for Lloyd Doggett.
It’s so frustrating realizing you are at ground zero of a plot to steal control of the federal government and are absolutely helpless to do anything about it. Even worse is realizing that the rest of the country is either indifferent or laughing at the honorable Democrats who fought like hell to stop it.
Grrr. Arrgh. Inarticulate mumbling.
Can those “senior officials” be sued for violating civil rights?
Phoenician in a time of Romans:
Probably not. You could file for a writ of mandamus; i.e., do your job! Pretty rare and tough though.
However, you could file (IMHO) against the state officials who did the Gerrymandering under 42 USC 1981. Attempt by a state official to deny civil rights. It would pass the state courts and go directly into the Federal system. Worth a try. (Me too, inarticulate mumbling)