Hi Gang:
As, no doubt, you know, I generally focus my commentaries on issues relating to border security and other aspects of the immigration crisis that confronts our nation. Today I will address a different issue but an issue that is extreme importance to all Americans.
The two news reports I have provided [click here for 1] [click here for 2] have appeared in the Washington Times over the past couple of days and deal with two issues that go directly to the foundation of our government and literally, the democratic process.
The concept of civil rights is to make certain that the rights guaranteed to the citizens of the United States under the Constitution are applied equally. Justice is supposed to be blind- meaning that factors such as race, religion, ethnicity, sex and other such identifiers are utterly ignored where justice is concerned.
Civil rights laws were enacted during the 1960’s to right the vile and reprehensible wrongs of our nation in not providing equal justice to all Americans- especially, but not limited to black Americans.
This is what “equality” is supposed to be about.
Traditionally it was the Justice Department of the federal government that has been the enforcer of civil rights laws across our nation. It was the Justice Department that sent US Marshals to end segregation in the South.
It is the Justice Department that is responsible for all criminal prosecutions conducted by the federal government. This is why the attorney general is often referred to as Americas “Top Cop!”
If the Justice Department cannot be counted on to act objectively and dispassionately to make certain that civil rights are applied to all Americans, then our nation has embarked on a truly dangerous journey, heading down a path with extremely serious implications.
What is unfathomable is that an attorney who had been in a key position within the Justice Department has come forward to “blow the whistle” on an incredible failure of the federal government to act fairly in seeing to it that all citizens of our nation are treated fairly. It is certainly reprehensible when members of minorities are treated unfairly, but it is no less reprehensible when the Americans who find themselves on the “short end of the stick” are white Americans!
I began this commentary by saying that the news reports I have attached below dealt with two issues. The second issue is the way that voters in Philadelphia were intimidated when they showed up to vote. Voting is simply the only barrier that stands between the citizens of a democratic nation and dictatorship!
It is through the electoral process that the voices of the citizens are heard. This is the power that is reserved to the citizens of our nation by the Constitution!
As you probably already know- or will quickly find out when you read the news reports below, 3 members of the New Black Panthers, are alleged to have stood outside a polling site at the 4th Division of Ward 14 in Philadelphia on Election Day 2008.
These men were dressed in military-style garb and at least one of the men was observed wielding a nightstick. Here is the quote from the news report that addressed this issue:
A civil complaint in the case said two New Black Panther Party members in black berets, black combat boots, black shirts and black jackets with military insignias intimidated voters with racial slurs and a nightstick. A third-party member was accused of directing their behavior. The incident was captured on videotape and gained national attention after it was shown on YouTube.
Here is what the courageous Christopher Coates was quoted as stating in the news report:
“Based upon my own personal knowledge of the events surrounding the division’s actions in the Panther case and the atmosphere that existed and continues to exist in the division and in the voting section against fair enforcement of certain federal voting laws, I do not believe these representations to this commission accurately reflect what occurred in the Panther case and do not reflect the hostile atmosphere that existed within the division for a long time against race-neutral enforcement of the Voting Rights Act,” he said.
Mr. Coates said this hostility became clear to him while pursuing a 2005 Mississippi case in which white voters were the victims of intimidation. He said some department employees refused to work on the case, which, according to Mr. Coates, also drew criticism from civil rights groups.
He said the election of President Obama allowed those most opposed to “race-neutral enforcement” to move into leadership positions against the Civil Rights Division. One of those officials, then-acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King, ordered the dismissal of the New Black Panther case.
What is unfathomable is the lengths to which the administration has gone to raise the issue of “profiling” in the Arizona immigration case. The concern about “profiling is that because of the immigration law enacted by the state of Arizona individuals, including potentially United States citizens, might be targeted by law enforcement for unfair treatment.
The immigration law enacted by Arizona has explicitly addressed the issue of “profiling” yet the administration has used these concerns at every opportunity.
However, is anyone in the administration concerned that white Americans might find themselves being threatened by non-whites?
Shouldn’t the administration and the Attorney General be at least as concerned about the rights of American citizens exercising their Constitutionally guaranteed right to vote as he is concerned about the rights of illegal aliens?
The Voters’ Rights Act of 1965 has a provision that specifically deals with voter intimidation:
SEC. 11. (a) No person acting under color of law shall fail or refuse to permit any person to vote who is entitled to vote under any provision of this Act or is otherwise qualified to vote, or willfully fail or refuse to tabulate, count, and report such person’s vote.
(b) No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for voting or attempting to vote, or intimidate, threaten, or coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for urging or aiding any person to vote or attempt to vote, or intimidate, threaten, or coerce any person for exercising any powers or duties under section 3(a), 6, 8, 9, 10, or 12(e).
Here is a paragraph that appears on the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department website and the link to that website:
http://www.justice.gov/crt/voting/misc/faq.php#faq18
What responsibilities does the Justice Department have with regard to voter fraud or intimidation?
What responsibilities does the Justice Department have with regard to voter fraud or intimidation?
The administration of elections is chiefly a function of state government. However, federal authorities may become involved in election fraud matters when a state prosecutor asks for federal assistance. In cases where intimidation, coercion, or threats are made or attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce are made to any person for voting or attempting to vote, federal civil voting rights claims may be brought by the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division. In such cases where voters are intimidated, coerced, threatened or oppressed or attempts are made to do these acts based on race, color, religion, or national origin, federal criminal charges may be brought by the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division. In addition, the Public Integrity Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division can become involved when allegations arise that criminal vote fraud has occurred in a federal election.
In general, if you have information about voter fraud, please contact the nearest office of the FBI or your local U.S. Attorney’s office or the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division. Furthermore, if you have information about voter intimidation, coercion or threats, please contact the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division. If you know of activities that intimidate, coerce, threaten, or oppress voters based on race, color, religion, or national origin, please contact the Criminal Section:
Chief, Criminal Section
Civil Rights Division
Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. – PHB
Washington, D.C. 20530
(202) 514-3204
The evidence about this outrageous event is about as solid as a federal agent or prosecutor could hope for- the incident was recorded on video tape!
The Pledge of Allegiance is one of those things all too many of us recite without really paying much, if any attention, to the words.
To refresh the memory of our “leaders” and especially Eric Holder, America’s “Top Cop” I have provided you with a copy of the Pledge of Allegiance.
I think that Mr. Holder needs to pay special attention to the last 6 words of the Pledge of Allegiance that states:
“…With Liberty And Justice For All”
Simply stated- “ALL MEANS ALL!”
We the People must be the best citizens we can be, citizens who are worthy of the gallantry demonstrated by our valiant men and women in the military, law enforcement and firefighters, who routinely go in harm’s way in defense of this nation and our citizens.
My goal in writing this and other commentaries is to point out our nations many failings before more victims pay the ultimate price for the incompetence and ineptitude of our government.
The first step in problem-solving is to first identify the problems and vulnerabilities and then devise strategies to overcome them.
If you find yourself to be in agreement with this commentary, I ask that you forward it to as many of your friends and family members as possible and encourage them to do the same. We need to create a “Bucket Brigade of Truth!”
In just 6 weeks each and every member of the House of Representatives is up for reelection and more than one third of the members of the United States Senate will have to face their constituents. They need to be reminded that they work for us, We the People!
However, the practice of good citizenship does not end in the voting booth, it only begins there.
The large scale apathy demonstrated by citizens of this nation has emboldened elected representatives to all but ignore the needs of the average American citizen in a quest for massive campaign funds and the promises of votes to be ostensibly delivered by special interest groups. There is much that we cannot do but there is one thing that We the People absolutely must do- we must stop sitting on the sidelines!
The collective failure of We the People to get involved in make our concerns known to our politicians have nearly made the concerns of the great majority of the citizens of this nation all but irrelevant to the politicians.I implore you to get involved!
If this situation concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional “Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!
All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!
We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
-michael cutler-