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Top DOJer Called Voting-Rights Official "Black and Bitter"
This might be the most horrifying excerpt from the Schlozman report:
In that incident in August 2004, Voting Section Chief John Tanner sent an e-mail to Schlozman asking Schlozman to bring coffee for him to a meeting both were scheduled to attend. Schlozman replied asking Tanner how he liked his coffee. Tanner's response was, "Mary Frances Berry style - black and bitter." Berry is an African-American who was the Chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from November 1993 until late 2004. Schlozman forwarded the e-mail chain to several Department officials (including Principal DAAG Bradshaw) but not Acosta, with the comment, "Y'all will appreciate Tanner's response." Acosta said that when he was made aware of the incident, he required Schlozman to make a written apology to him for his role in forwarding the e-mail and that Schlozman did so.
Tanner, as longtime readers will remember, was the guy who left the voting-rights section soon after saying that voter ID laws discriminate against the elderly, and therefore not against African-Americans, because African-Americans die younger.
We've contacted both Berry and Tanner to get their reactions...
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Josh
Zachary
Bigots. And criminals! Institutionalized racism and crony criminality.
January 13, 2009 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
All we need now, is a scarecrow with no brain. ...oh, wait!
January 13, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
:)
January 13, 2009 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow - we knew these guys were pigs, but they are a million times worse than we thought. These revelations are going to continue for a while - within 6 - 12 months the world will know all the crimes, large and small of the Bushies. And maybe then there will be enough disgust so we can prosecute them.
January 13, 2009 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
And behind the scenes, I truly believe the wheels of investigation will be turning at DoJ. After all, they can't investigate in public. So... if we're not hearing about it, doesn't mean it won't be happening.
January 13, 2009 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
B-b-but I thought there was no more racism in America.
I appear to have been misled.
January 13, 2009 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
For heaven's sake, do these Republicans ever quit? I've heard of more racist comments from supposedly adult, educated people than one would hear from people in Bensonhurst or other poor neighborhoods where there is black/white friction.
I've really lost count of the racist remarks by Rebulican state chairs, Republican party officers, etc. etc. How can ANYONE in a public or political office think this sort of stuff is "OK".
And then the Republicans wonder why they don't have the black vote & have lost the Hispanic votes.
I hope this party gets voted into oblivion so a new party that is fiscally conservative and not social repressive and racist can take their place. This country could use a good balance between liberal and conservative political views. Unfortunately now, instead of principled conservatism, the Republican party is made up of racists, xenophobes, and homophobes.
January 13, 2009 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
A cheap shot. Stupid.
Not that la Berry is the most collegial person with whom to work or associate. That's not the issue here.
You shouldn't think that way.
You shouldn't put those thoughts on paper or onto an e-mail.
And you shouldn't forward them either.
And person who does any of the above isn't fit to hold public office.
January 13, 2009 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can just tell this mofo is as ignorant as they come.
January 13, 2009 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's terribly reassuring that the highest levels of the Bush Justice Department were full of "lawyers" who were not only bigoted but apparently naive enough to think nobody would ever dig into their e-mail.
January 13, 2009 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess I should elaborate.
If they didn't think their e-mail would subsequently be discoverable and/or otherwise disclosed to the public, they are too stupid to practice law anywhere in the United States, much less in the Justice Department.
It would be even more disturbing if they knew the public would probably see these e-mails someday, but just didn't care enough to pretend not to be who they really were.
January 13, 2009 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
John Tanner is still getting paid by Federal tax dollars - and now teaching law at Univ of Alabama!
"AP reports: The former chief of the Justice Department's Voting Rights Section, who stepped aside in December after apologizing for remarks about minority voters, is now working on election-related issues for the Alabama Law Institute.
John Tanner, who is being paid by the Justice Department under a federal program, also will teach at two Alabama law schools.
The law institute's president, Alabama House Speaker Pro Tem Demetrius Newton, said he personally contacted Tanner when he heard the long-time voting rights specialist wanted some time away from Washington. At the institute, a part of the University of Alabama, Tanner's work includes developing handbooks for public officials on getting Justice Department approval of election-law changes.
He will also teach about election law in the fall at Alabama's law school and then in the spring at Samford University's law school, McCurley said.
Tanner said Justice Department policy limits what he can say publicly.
But he is participating in the federal government's program to loan personnel to other government agencies. The Justice Department is paying Tanner's salary and benefits to be in Alabama through next spring."
and working for the Alabama Law Institute -
and guest speaker at a conference for Alabama State Senate and house members - on the 2010 Census Preview: Effect on Reapportionment and Revenue.
"John Tanner, Visiting Fellow with the Alabama Law Institute and Former Chief of the Voting Rights Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., was the second distinguished speaker. He spoke on Reapportionment : What This Means for Your District."
Yeah - you really want this guy speaking on Redistricting.
Can't we get him disbarred in AL - then thrown in jail.
January 13, 2009 8:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Question that won't be asked, an certainly won't be answered.....
What was it in W's leadership that suggested such behavior supported his overall policy vision?
January 13, 2009 8:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
YEP, THE KKK INFILTRATED THE GOV JUST LIKE THEY SAID THEY WOULD
January 13, 2009 10:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, yes, the wonderful prescribed legacy compliments of the BUSH ADMINISTRATION!
It will take years to uncover all of these racists and clean up the justice department.
January 14, 2009 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
The saddest part is, I don't think GWB himself had a clue to how politicized it was and such was oblivious as to what elements so reigned free in his administration that were responsible.
Could be wrong, but it would seem his shadowy operatives had their own agendas and had many good, self justifying reasons to keep him out of the loop.
January 14, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Schlozman,and the entire lot should be thrown in jail for ever.Better than they should be sent to live in a run down getto to see what it's like to be kicked.KKK not the word pure hate just pure hate. Off with their heads.I would think.
January 26, 2009 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink