Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 November 2003 — Page 9

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2003

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE A9

Judge Janice Rogers Brown worse Ilian Clarence Thomas READERS RESPOND

By GEORGE E. CURRY NNPA During his campaign for president in 2000, George W. Bush pledged to appoint federal judges in the mold of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. As difficult as it is to imagine, Bush is seeking to appoint judges to the bench who are even more hostile to civil rights than Scalia and Thomas. A classic example is Janice Rogers Brown, whom Bush wants to appoint to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. People for the American Way says that on issues involving civil rights, equal opportunity and discrimination, the California Supreme Court justice is “to the right of Thomas and Scalia.” To fully understand how extreme the California Supreme Court judge is, one needs to remember that she sits on a court where six of the seven members were appointed by Republican governors. Even in that setting, Brown is a lone dissenter. The Web sites of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (www.civilrights.org). People for the American Way (www.pfaw.org) and Alliance for

Justice (www.aQ.org) carry detailed examinations of Brown’s opinions, so I will not try to duplicate them in this limited space. At Brown’s confirmation hearinglast month. Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., reminded her, “In case after case, you come down on the side of denying rights and remedies to the downtrodden and disadvantaged. Oftentimes you ignore established precedent to get there. • “In a housing discrimination case, you were the only member of your court to find that the California Fair Employment and Housing Corpmission did not have the authority to award damages to housing discrimination victims. • “In a disability discrimination case, you were the only member of your court to conclude that due to a technical reading of the law, the victim was not entitled to raise past instances of discrimination that occurred. • “You are the only member of your court to conclude that age discrimination victims should not have the right to sue under common law - an interpretation that is directly contrary to the will of the California Legislature. • “You were the only member of the California Supreme Court who dissented in a case involving the sale of cigarettes to minors. All the other justices ruled that a corporation can, on behalf of the public, sue a retailer that illegally sells cigarettes to minors under

the state’s unfair competition law. • “You were the only member of the California Supreme Court who would strike down a San Franciscolawthat provided housing assistance to displaced lowincome, elderly, and disabled people. • “You were the only member of the California Supreme Court who concluded that there was nothing improper about requiring a criminal defendant to wear a 50,000-volt ‘stun belt’ at his trial. • “You were the only member of the California Supreme Court who voted to overturn the rape conviction of a 17-year-old girl because you felt that the victim gave mixed messages to the rapist. • “You were the only member of the California Supreme Court who dissented in two rulings that permitted counties to ban guns or gun sales on fairgrounds and other public property. • “As an appellate court judge, you ruled that paint companies could use Proposition 13 as a shield to avoid paying fees per the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act - a critical law used to evaluate, screen, and provide medical treatment for children at risk for lead poisoning. The California Supreme Court reversed you unanimously.” And that’s only part of her sordid record. Even California Chief J ustice Ronald George, a Republican

YOUR VOICE

appointee who sided with Brown in an anti-affirmative ruling (“Hi-Voltage Wire Works Inc. vs. City of San Jose”), said her written opinion in the case minimized the existence of racial discrimination. “The general theme that runs through the majority opinion’s historical discussion - that there is no meaningful distinction between discriminatory racial policies that were imposed for the clear purpose of establishing and preserving racial segregation, on the one hand, and race-conscious affirmative action programs whose aim is to break down or eliminate the continuing effects of such segregation and discrimination, on the other hand -represents a serious distortion of history and does a grave disservice to the sincerely held views of a significant segment of our populace,” he wrote. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, argues that Brown “is a conservative African-American woman, and for some, that alone disqualifies her nomination to the D.C. Circuit.” No, she is unqualified because she has demonstrated that she is unable to put aside her conservative political views and fairly uphold the law. George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the NNPA News Service and Black Press USA. com. He can be reached through his Web site, georgecurry.com.

Will sending more American troops to Iraq be helpful?

Dennis Ross Brent Howard Kathy Ann Reed

I disagree with that simply because there s been no proof of destructive weapons. Basically, that country was taken from its people. - Dennis Ross I think it would actually be helpful in getting stuff done and over with. That mess has gone on long enough. - Brent Howard If we do that America s looking at a never-ending war. Our soldiers should have never been put at risk for that greedy war. - Kathy Ann Reed

Danger in Sharpen s anH-Black ploy against Dean

By EARL OFARI HUTCHINSON On the surface, Democratic presidential candidate Al Sharpton’s shoot from the lip quip that Howard Dean is antiBlack and his strong implication that Jesse Jackson Jr. and other Black leaders that endorse a white Democrat are Uncle Toms is ridiculous even by his loose standard. Jackson is not the first prominen. Black Democrat to endorse one of the top white Democratic presidential contenders. Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford Jr., New York Congressman Charles Rangel, South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn as well as legions of state and local Black Democratic politicians have endorsed or strongly lean toward backing one of the top white Democratic contenders. And just what did Dean say or do to punch Sharpton’s hot button and brand him anti- Black? Sharpton dredged up a stray re-

mark that Dean made some years It’s a wrongheaded notion. In ago as Vermont governor that af- countless municipal, state, confirmative action should be based gressional, and even a gubernatoon class not race. rial election in non-majority Black But many Blacks have said the cities and districts, and that even same thing. This would have includes some in the South, where stripped the bitter racial rancor Blacks have gone head-to-head out of the affirmative action de- with white candidates, Blacks bate. In any case, Dean has re- have won election with substanversed himself and unequivocally tial white support, backs affirmative action. The far more troubling part of Sharpton also beat up on Dean Sharpton’s diktat is that Blacks for saying that Democrats must should reflexively vote for a Black try to wean the white guys who candidatemerelybecausethecandrive pick-ups and sport the Con- didate is Black. There is racial federate flag away from Bush if idealism, then opportunism to they want to snatch the White this. Though Sharpton dons conHouse in 2004. servative business suits and occaWhat’s wrong with that? In his sionally sounds like a thoughtftil winning presidential campaigns, Democrat on some issues, he simClinton refused to racially pan- ply carries too much racial bagder, and went after disaffected gage to dissuade most whites that working and middle class whites, he is anything other than a racial Yet the majority of Blacks still rabble-rouser. It would be racial hail him as their “honorary’ Black sacrilege for them to even think of president.” Incidentally, Dean voting for him. called the Confederate flag a rac- There are also a lot Blacks that ist symbol. have deep misgivings about Sharpton’s tirade is also based Sharpton and his candidacy. In a on the commonplace notion that survey in 2000 by the Joint Cenwhites will only vote for white ter for Political and Economic candidates, and that Blacks must Studies, a Washington, D.C., pubcounter that by voting for Blacks, lie policy think tank, nearly 30 percent of Blacks had an unfavorable impression of him. I n contrast the elder Jesse Jackson had a 90 percent favorable rating among Blacks during his two presidential runs in the 1980s. Jackson has yet to endorse any Democrat and the betting odds are that if and when he does it won’t be Sharpton. Still, iflarge numbers of Blacks out of misguided racial guilt or naivete’ back him he could score big in the early primaries in Washington to be held in January, and South Carolina and Michigan in February and March where the Black vote is of crucial importance. This would virtually compel whichever white Democrat

that finally emerges from the pack to genuflect at his feet to get the Black votes that are absolutely vital in the final showdown with President Bush. But Sharpton’s political ploy is fraught with much danger. When the mantle of Black leadership is wrapped tightly around one man, the presumption is that he or she speaks for all Blacks. In the 1980s, when Jackson talked about building an independent Black political organization, Blacks were attacked as separatists. When he talked about boycotting corporations and baseball leagues that racially discriminate in hiring and promotion. Blacks were attacked as disruptive. When he called New York “hymietown,” Blacks were attacked as antiSemitic. The same prevails with Sharpton. When he was under heavy fire for the Tawana Brawley rape controversy, the burning down of a Jewish-owned store in Harlem after picketing that he endorsed, and his penchant for inflammatory statements, so were Blacks. They were forced to publicly defend him from the attacks w hile privately grousing that he made them look like idiots. Sharpton says that he wants to break up the chummy good ole’ white guys presidential club and goad the Democrats to Like st rung positions on civil rights and poverty issues. It’s a good aim, but name calling Dean, and saber rattling other Blacks to back him though he doesn't have a ghost of a chance of bagging the presidential nomination makes him, not Dean, appear to be anti-Black. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is the author of The Crisis in Black and Black (Middle Passage Press). E-mail: EhutehiB44(ii aol.eoni

Vernon Brown thanks voters To the residents of District 18: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in my successful bid to represent all of you as the Councilperson from District 18. I would also like to thank all of the poll workers as well as volunteers from both parties who gave up their time to serve the citizens of the Eastside. I applaud all of the candidates who chose to give up their time in an effort to serve the community. I’d also like to thank The 1 ndianapolis Recorder, the Star and other media outlets for informing the voters of the candidates so that they could have sufficient information to make informed choices on Election Day. Now it is time for us to work together to i mprove t he qual ity of life for all of the citizens of the Eastside of Indianapolis. Economic development, quality education opportunities, and public safety are the challenges that face us all. In order to be successful in these three areas, it will take a team effort from each political party, community groups, churches, and civic organizations. We must all come together to develop solutions to these monumental issues. As your representative on the City-County Council, I will work tirelessly to facilitate this process. I will be accessible and visible. I toll attend your meetings when I am invited and I will carry your concerns back to the mayor’s office. I will put you and your family’s safety and security first and foremost in decisions I make and not let partisan politics prohibit me from doing the right thing. I will keep you informed of what is happening in city government. I can only accomplish these tasks with your help. Please feel free to contact me to inform me of your community meetings, your concerns, and your ideas about the future of the Eastside that we all know, love, and call home. I am a public servant and I will serve you. Vernon A. Brown City-County Council District 18 Partial birth abortion law I am so very happy to see the partial birth abortion legislation signed into law. Yes, we must care for the mother’s health and safety; however, many women choose to wait and not make a decision before the fetus/child is developed. By the third trimester the fetus/child has all legs, arms, eyes, a fully beating heart and in even way is a child. To know that the U.S.A. has promoted the actual killing of these children is abhorrent to me. Let’s get a program instituted so that women who want their pregnancy terminated, make an informed decision during the first trimester. Dianah Louks Bush and the economy It’s difficult to understand why President Bush claims that the economy is improving as a result of his tax cuts for the wealthy. American companies slashed twice as many jobs in October as they did in September, adding to the 9 million poor souls already unemployed. Average hourly enrnings nnd disposable income are declining. The U.K.'s Guardian reports that the richest 1 percent of Americans own over 40 percent of the wealth; halfof Bush's 81.35 trillion tax cut went to that Ipercent. Sixty percent of this year's cuts go to taxpayers earning over $100,000. Bush also wants to cut the inheritance tax, which affects onh the

wealthiest 2 percent. The majority of people in this country are rapidly losing everything they have worked for - health benefits, 40(k) funds, jobs - and you can bet that when the bill for the Iraq debacle comes due, the first casualties will be Social Security, Medicare and any other social programs that has merit. Bush and his buddies and benefactors are obviously benefiting from the cynical, dishonest policies of this administration. When are Americans going to face up to reality and demand honesty and accountability from their government? Angela Bradshaw Group thankful for coverage Thank you for your contribution and helping to make our Gospel Brunch a memorable event. The Madame C. J. Walker Business and Professional Women’s Association continues to strive for excellence. It’s people like you who help us in making that happen. The media coverage you provided us in the Oct. 24 issue of The Indianapolis Recorder was absolutely great. We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to share part of the morning and afternoon with us. This was our second year for the Gospel Brunch and we’re hoping it can become an annual event. If we decide to take on this challenge in the future we would appreciate your continued support. Cathy Prowell-Ursery President and April Searcy Chairperson Legislator wants response (This is a copy of a letter sent to the presidents oflU and Purdue) Dear President Adam W. Herbert (I ndiana University) and President M art i n J ischke (Purdue University): In 2003 it is appalling to know that racism and discrimination is continuing to be practiced in colleges and universities in the United States. It is very discouraging, yet it was a clear indication as to where we are as a country. We have seen the civil rights movement, the continued battles for equality amongst the races, and the struggle for socioeconomic changes, yet the fruits of our labor are nonexistent. The unfair hiring practices of Indiana University’s and Purdue University’s employment offices have been brought to my attention. I have received complaints from alumni of your universities who have obtained baccalaureate and master degrees. These individuals have submitted applications for many positions at your universities and been unsuccessful in obtaining employment. What is most shocking and ironic, is that they have not even been invited for interviews. Upon requesting from the employment departments the status ofthe submitted applications, the applicants were told that they were not qualified for the desired positions. The universities claim that these candidates do not have enough experience in the chosen field of interest. However, they have been trained by your institutions. As a member of the Indiana Legislature, I am willing to assist your universities in efforts to "cure" this problem. Please contact my office as soon as possible so that I might have a chance to discuss this issue with you further and provide you with some suggestions that might assist you in your future endeavors. •’*’ Glen 1.. Howard District 33

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