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bigtree

(85,915 posts)
6. extension of the voting rights act, census, redistricting
Tue Sep 3, 2019, 10:59 AM
Sep 2019

...Clarence Thomas in the deal after Bush vetoed the extension of the VRA 5 times.

Sen, Danforth, a republican and a good friend of Thomas, bought votes for the SC justice by agreeing to extend the Act, which, for the first time, included recognition of people with disabilities.

New census accepted in the bill, newly redrawn districts to include black communities drawn out of ancient maps; redistricting went through...right after that, the floodgates opened.


...that's my personal recollection. This interview nearly spells it out:

Danforth discusses his work with Kennedy on the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and other highlights from his Senate tenure.

...in the fall of 1991 two things were happening at once and they were the two biggest things in the Senate, and I was right in the middle of them. One was civil rights and one was Clarence Thomas. The people more or less allied with me on one issue would be against me on the other. It was really intense. That period of three months or so was, let’s say, interesting, and extremely nerve-racking with the Thomas thing. Very time-consuming.

But, on the other hand, if you’re in politics, you want to be in the middle of things, right? So I was in the middle of things.


Young: So there was the Kennedy of Bork vintage, with Clarence Thomas coming up, and there was the Kennedy of civil rights vintage of you working with him. That was quite a situation. Quite a situation.

more: https://www.emkinstitute.org/resources/john-danforth

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
Kick mcar Sep 2019 #1
love Rep. Waters bigtree Sep 2019 #2
Oh yeah, I remember them well. Kind of Blue Sep 2019 #4
extension of the voting rights act, census, redistricting bigtree Sep 2019 #6
This is great and thanks for the synopsis and links, bigtree. Kind of Blue Sep 2019 #9
Two awesome women! MoonRiver Sep 2019 #3
Yes, indeed. So heartwarming to see them there for each other. Kind of Blue Sep 2019 #5
Game Recognizes Game! corbettkroehler Sep 2019 #7
Yes, Indeed. Queen meets Queen. Kind of Blue Sep 2019 #10
has Waters endorsed Harris ? JI7 Sep 2019 #8
Does it matter? Kind of Blue Sep 2019 #11
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