"Big Three" Civil Rights Leaders tell Senate: "Filibuster Alito!"

[beaconess]

National Urban League, NAACP and NAACP Legal Defense Fund tell Reid "Don't jettison your principles for short-term political gain"

Dear Senator Reid:

We write on behalf of three of the most respected civil rights organizations in the country, representing the interests of millions of African-Americans, to urge you in the strongest possible terms to do everything in your power to stop the confirmation of Samuel Alito, including the use of the filibuster.

As you know, throughout his career, Judge Alito has interpreted the Constitution and laws in a manner that narrowly constricts or denies civil rights, voting rights, economic opportunity, and social justice.

If elevated to the Supreme Court, he is likely to drastically and dangerously shift the Court in the wrong direction.

We are very concerned about press reports that indicate certain Senators have suggested that, instead of using every available tool under Senate rules to stop this nomination, they hope that Alito's confirmation could be a viable political issue in upcoming elections.

Such a position is unacceptable. The American people are depending upon Senators to stand up for justice, equality and civil rights, not to jettison these principles for short-term political gain.

We appreciate the many eloquent and heartfelt comments from you and your colleagues laying out why Judge Alito's presence on the Supreme Court would do enormous damage to the principles for which our nation stands. But now is the time for action, not mere words -- action you and your colleagues have the power to accomplish.

We implore you to fight this nomination with everything you have, including the filibuster. The people we represent have kept faith with those for whom they vote to protect their interests. We urge you to keep faith with them.

Sincerely,

Marc Morial, National Urban League
Theodore M. Shaw, NAACP Legal Defenseand Educational Fund, Inc.
Bruce S. Gordon, NAACP

[Coexist]

1. Pressure from groups is much better than pressure from individuals

I think, at least.

[EFerrari]

2. Tell it! Sing it

:applause::applause::applause:

[mbali]

3. This is GREAT!

There's strength in unity!

[Armstead]

4. Kick

[understandinglife]

5. Outstanding. DU Homepage material, for sure!!

Peace.

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. Let's hope they are talking to Obama, who apparently is fighting AGAINST

a fillibuster:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x256402
thread title (1-27-06 GD-Alito): Buzzflash: OBAMA OPPOSES FILIBUSTER according to knowledgable source:

[insane_cratic_gal]

16. We were so excited about Obama too

He's really turned out to be .... just disappointing.

He's charismatic, but it almost seems he worries far too much about his image then doing what is right.

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. Yes, it's very sad. I think he wants to be president, and that is what has

precedence in his planning. He plays along with the DLC so they know they can "trust" him to follow their agenda. I would not be at all suprised to see a DLC-driven campaign to force nomination of Hillary Clinton as presidential and Obama as VP candidates in 2008. They would value his charisma and oratorical abilities and want to use him to bring in factions that distrust Hillary Clinton. If not in 2008, then in a later election.

[mom cat]

7. Alito will turn the constitution against the little guy ... and gal!

[IndyOp]

8. Comment: See how the AfAm Comm rescues our country again and again?

Let *THAT* be a lesson to me and to all - we *must* pull out the stops to achieve justice and equality for *all* in this nation. As a child in the early 70's I thought we had achieved it - we sang the songs and I wrote book reports about King, Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver...

I am sickened again and again to see my brothers and sisters ignored and abused at the hands of those who live and die for profit and power.

REMEMBER THIS: WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. WE ALL THRIVE OR WE DIE.

Too far? I don't think so. The impending/ongoing environmental crisis will lead to the collapse of society into constant violence or we will overcome together. We cannot do this without *everyone's* equal input and COMMITMENT TO THE COMMON GOOD.

In the early 70's I wrote book reports and have continued to read and talk and learn from friends of all ethnicities of their experiences in this country. Still, I am ashamed that it took me until the third decade of my life to begin to have a truly deep appreciation of the role that African Americans play in our nation.

We treat them like this....and still they rise. That leaves me with NO excuses for lacking courage.

[obreaslan]

9. Funny, the MSM is saying it's only the extreme left blogs on the internet.

That are calling for filibuster. Could they be wrong? Or worse, could they be lying???????? :wow:

:sarcasm:

[Anita Garcia]

10. New Orleans connection

Marc Morial is former Mayor of NOLA.
NAACP (Washington Bureau) has called Urgent Action Request.
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) is displaced from NOLA.
NAACP is discussing demonstration at Sen. Landrieu's NOLA office.

[John Q. Citizen]

11. That's an interesting connection and angle. I hope they pull it off.

[wordpix]

12. thank you, Urban League and NAACP--FILIBUSTER is the way

[melissinha]

13. I was talking to a lawyer for the NAACP last night

I didn't know at the time that this was breaking news when he told me. He told me that they have make sure that their objections are made public record.

I have no additional insight, just that he confirmed that the beloved Congressman Conyers is the real deal (not that there was any doubt), and the Senate Democrats are a bunch of wimps that need to step up.

This lawyer said that he was actually a lawyer in the party against the redistricting here in Texas.....

[insane_cratic_gal]

14. Its the only way we win this PR campaign

Keep Hammering Alito's character over his poor choices and radical views about minorities. As another Du'er suggested keep calling him a nightmare.

We have to frame the issue. The media has decided the only issue is abortion rights. I'm a woman while that issue is important to me, Alito is not a one man issue. He's a danger to privacy, minorities rights and issues of discrimination, he's a danger to the power grab of the Bush admin. giving way too much power to the executive branch and removing the check and balance of Congress. (well Congress that is suppose to be the check and balance anyway.)

We need to keep hammering that!

[ClintonTyree]

15. Well, that about does it.............

I don't know how much clearer it has to be made to our Senate Democrats. Everyone, EVERYONE on the left has advised the Democrats that this is a watershed moment, that a filibuster is the only course of action concerning Alito's confirmation. If they should decide otherwise........the future of the Democratic party will look pretty bleak.

[Virginian]

17. This is what the Repubs don't understand.

I got this cute little story today from my cousin in OZ. It seems as if all the farm animals were Republicans.

========================

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package.

"What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning.

"There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is of grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it."

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The pig sympathized, but said, "I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!"

The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbours came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for
one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

The moral of this story is that we must band together against Alito. If he is confirmed, sooner or later he will have some negative influence over the constitutional rights of just about everyone. Stop him now or be powerless to stop him later. This is permanent. It cannot be undone.

[beaconess]

18. Great fable!

[Coexist]

19. That is great n/t

[W2Hague]

20. My email to Senator Byrd...

... and the answer to the question:

______ "What's Mr. Chimpy gotta do to get impeached???" ______________

____________________ http://www.bruindesign.com _________________

Enjoy!



Peace
TheBear

[Voltaire99]

21. What principles?

The ones that led to supporting the Patriot Act, Homeland Security and the Iraq War?

Don't worry; those are jettison-proof.

[Anita Garcia]

22. NAACP Demonstration outside of Landrieu office today

NAACP Demonstration outside of Landrieu office today at 4:00 PM.
More information here: <http://politicalswitchboard.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=7161&st=0&p=42586&>

[radio4progressives]

24. excellent report! thanks! n/t

:kick:

[Anita Garcia]

25. I was at Sen. Landrieu's NOLA office today

She will vote for cloture.
More information at: <http://politicalswitchboard.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=7200>

[beaconess]

26. kick