January 8, 2003

WHY IS THE GRAY LADY ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW?:

The Revenge of Trent Lott (NY Times, January 9, 2003)
The nation didn't have to wait long to find out if President Bush's impassioned denunciation of Trent Lott's racial views last month presaged a new approach to the selection of federal judges. It didn't. That became clear on Tuesday evening when the White House decided to renominate Charles Pickering, who failed to win confirmation from the Democratic-controlled Senate last year. Judge Pickering, a Mississippi trial judge and a protege of Mr. Lott, was rejected largely because of his insensitive handling of civil rights cases. The Senate should once again refuse to confirm Judge Pickering, and should carefully scrutinize the 30 other nominees the administration is putting forth. [...]

During last month's firestorm over Mr. Lott, Republicans tried to have it both ways on race. They appeased the majority of Americans, who were outraged at Mr. Lott's sympathetic words about segregation, by pressing him to resign as the Senate Republican leader. At the same time they winked at Mr. Lott's supporters by having prominent party members stand by him. More recently, they announced plans to award Mr. Lott a new position of honor by making him chairman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.


Is the Times really just now realizing they got their keisters handed to them in the Lott dust-up? The GOP renounced Jim Crow--hardly a burning issue--it didn't change its mind about race. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 8, 2003 10:29 PM
Comments

"Judge Pickering, a Mississippi trial judge and a protege of Mr. Lott, was rejected largely because of his insensitive handling of civil rights cases."



No, he was painted as a racist by People for the American Way (there's a misnomer for you) who spun the facts of the case to fit their agenda of "no conservatives on the court". Those who want to dispute this would be wise to read all of Byron York's coverage of this case in NRO. As usual, the more detail you read about the FACTS of that ONE case, the more obvious it becomes that this was a smear campaign.

Posted by: Jeff Brokaw at January 9, 2003 7:19 AM

I expanded on the above here
, including links to the Byron York articles mentioned above.

Posted by: Jeff Brokaw at January 9, 2003 7:53 AM

> he Senate should once again refuse to confirm Judge Pickering



Huh? Did he get an actual vote? I seem to recall the Judiciary committee never submitted him to a vote...

Posted by: Kirk Parker at January 10, 2003 3:14 AM
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