Attorney General Eric Holder (AG) handed in his resignation so I thought I’d take a quick look to see what I could find to read about his tenure under President Obama. I have a great deal of respect for our public servants and, where it is necessary, I like to be an informed respondent when the haters bring their hate.
You will not believe what I found!
The object of Congressman Darrell Issa’s (R-CA) well documented effort to destroy this man has actually been a very, very successful AG ~ even more successful than I thought, but you will have to wait for that.
First, the generic bio of the man:
The object of Congressman Darrell Issa’s (R-CA) well documented effort to destroy this man has actually been a very, very successful AG ~ even more successful than I thought, but you will have to wait for that.
First, the generic bio of the man:
Born in NYC in 1951 * Attended
Columbia Law School * Was an associate judge of the D.C. Superior Court under
President Reagan * U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. * deputy attorney general
under Clinton * senior legal advisor to Obama’s presidential campaign * first
African-American Attorney General in history * Announced his forthcoming resignation
in September of 2014…
***Credits and a bit more information can be found linked below. As always, any corrections should be sent to me via the comments section and I will change immediately if that is required. TY
Mother was a telephone operator * Father was a real estate
broker * Both parents held strong ties to Barbados * Father emigrated from
Saint Joseph * Mother's family emigrated from Saint Philip * Eldest of two
brothers * Grew up in East Elmhurst, Queen Attended public school in neighborhood
until the fourth grade, when he was selected to participate in a program for intellectually
gifted children * Attended Stuyvesant High School * Captain of the basketball
team * Earned his high school diploma
and Regents Scholarship…
Attended Columbia University * Received
his bachelor's degree in American * Attended Columbia Law School while clerking
for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Department of Justice's Criminal
Division * Graduated and the Department of Justice gave him a job as part of
the attorney general's honors program, assigned to the newly formed Public
Integrity Section, which investigated and prosecuted official corruption on the
local, state and federal levels…
Associate judge of the Superior
Court of the District of Columbia, presided over hundreds of civil and criminal
trials * U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. under President Clinton, where he created
a domestic violence unit, a community prosecution project and a program for
restricting gun laws * Deputy attorney general, also under Bill Clinton, where
he developed and issued the "Holder Memorandum," which spelled out
the guidelines for the criminal prosecution of corporations, developed rules
for the regulation of health care, and assembled a task force that determined
how to investigate criminal investigations of high-ranking federal employee *
Afterwards, he joined the private sector
to work at the law firm Covington and Burling * Joined Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign as a senior legal
advisor, and later served as one of three members on Obama's vice-presidential
selection committee * He was appointed and confirmed as the 82nd U.S. attorney
general in 2009, making him the first African-American attorney general in
history.
He is married to obstetrician Sharon
Malone. The couple has three children: Maya, Brooke and Eric. They reside in
Washington, D.C.
As an aside, his wife’s sister, his
sister-in-law is Vivian Malone
who “ … sought
to enter the campus on 11 June 1963, Governor George Wallace, in a highly
publicized confrontation, met them and attempted to prohibit their entrance.
His stand in the doorway to Foster Auditorium was an attempt to enforce the
proclamation that he gave in his inaugural gubernatorial address,
"Segregation now! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever!" He had
said during the address that, if necessary, he would physically place himself
between the state's all-white public schools and any black person who sought to
enter them.
Wallace's
confrontation came in front of the national media and with state troopers
surrounding the auditorium. President John F. Kennedy's White House and
Wallace's office had discussed the impending confrontation as Attorney General Robert
F. Kennedy hoped to avoid bloodshed and negotiated what would occur when
the students sought to enter. At first Wallace refused to abide by the federal
court order, citing what he called the constitutional rights of states to
operate public academic institutions. After Alabama's National Guard was
federalized, however, Wallace finally relented and Malone and Hood entered
Foster Auditorium, registered, and had no further encounters that day. Both
students also entered the next day without incident. … “
As an aside II, the
fact that the word “lynching” is still in the news makes me wish the AG was
staying for the next two years, as I am a believer in having qualified public
servants who know where it’s at in positions that can really affect change.
Edited
(by me) some ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC
HOLDER per the United States Justice Department, all
accomplished while, as with President Obama, his very existence in his position
was/is resisted by the GOP. More details
can be found here :
On
his first day as Attorney General, Eric Holder promised the Department's top
priority — and its chief responsibility — would be protecting the security,
rights and interests of the American people. Five years later, together with
the extraordinary men and women who serve at the Department of Justice, that
promise has been fulfilled and under Attorney General Holder the Department
will continue its important work on behalf of all.
PROTECTING
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AGAINST TERRORISM AND OTHER THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY
The
Department of Justice has thwarted multiple terrorist plots against the United
States. Since the beginning of 2009, the Justice Department has thwarted
multiple terrorist plots against the United States; convicted and incarcerated
scores of individuals on terrorism-related charges; and gleaned critical
intelligence from and about terrorists through the criminal justice system.
(A few that were
highlighted by the Justice Department: The Department of Justice has
successfully executed ground-breaking counter intelligence operations. The
Department of Justice has prevented U.S. military and strategic
technologies from falling into the wrong hands. The Department of Justice has
continued to identify and disrupt Narco-terrorist networks. )
PROTECTING
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM VIOLENT AND OTHER CRIMES
Violent
crime rates have steadily declined in the last five years as the Department has
successfully prosecuted national, international gangs and traditional organized
crime groups. The Department has aggressively pursued fighting
traditional organized crime groups like La Cosa Nostra (LCN) while addressing
evolving and emerging threats – from street gangs to transnational organized
crime groups – which continue to pose significant threats to the safety and
security of our communities.
(A
few that were highlighted by the Justice Department: The Department has
successfully arrested and prosecuted large numbers of dangerous fugitives. The
Department is working to hold accountable those responsible for the Deepwater
Horizon Disaster. The Department is using innovative law enforcement
strategies to prosecute cyber and intellectual property crime. The Department
has provided unprecedented support for state and local law enforcement partners.
The Department has made an unprecedented commitment to ensuring officer safety.
The Department is supporting effective prisoner reentry and reinvestment
programs.)
PROTECTING
TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND CONSUMERS AGAINST FINANCIAL FRAUD WHILE ENSURING
COMPETITIVE MARKETS
The
Department has investigated and held accountable those responsible for
financial fraud. In 2009, President Obama created the Financial
Fraud Task Force to hold accountable those who helped bring about the last
financial crisis. Since its formation (see link provided above for that list!)
(A
few that were highlighted by the Justice Department: The Department has secured
justice for victims of lending discrimination or fraud. The Department has
vigorously enforced the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The Department
launched innovative programs to stop fraud in the residential mortgage-backed
securities market. The Department has successfully prosecuted international
cartels and domestic collusion conspiracies. The Department has prevented
anticompetitive mergers and preserved market competition. The Department has
established the most effective strike force in history to protect Medicare
money. The Department has returned historic amounts of taxpayer dollars through
the False Claims Act. The Department has expanded efforts to combat corruption
at home and abroad. The Department has made historic progress in combating the
diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals. The Department has made historic
efforts to investigate and prosecute offshore tax evasion. The Department has
protected billions of dollars claimed in abusive tax claims.)
PROTECTING
AGAINST THREATS TO THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
With
no opening paragraph accompanying this section, I will just to (A few that were
highlighted by the Justice Department: The Department has aggressively
prosecuted child exploitation and pornography. The Department has charged
a record number of human trafficking cases. The Department has enforced the
Religious Land Use of Institutionalized Persons Act. The Department has
effectively used the landmark Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate
Crimes Prevention Act to enhance hate crime prosecutions. The Department
launched the Defending Childhood Initiative. The Department has made
significant investments to keep young people and communities safe. The
Department has modernized the definition of rape in the Uniform Crime Reporting
Program. The Department has made an unprecedented commitment to reducing
violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women. The Department
continues to vigorously enforce the right of equal access to the ballot box. Expanding
Equal Employment Opportunity in the Workplace. The Department launched the
first-ever Access to Justice Initiative. The Department has spearheaded
unprecedented efforts to reform police departments throughout the country to
ensure constitutional police practices. The Department has protected tribal
sovereignty, tribal lands and resources and tribal treaty rights.
And,
just two more …
REQUIRING
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY
The
Department has demonstrated its historic commitment to transparency. Upon
taking office, President Obama issued a memorandum on the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) which directed agencies to administer the Act "with
a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails." On March
19, 2009, Attorney General Holder issued new FOIA guidelines that embrace the
call for greater transparency and "a new era of open Government."
Under these guidelines, the Department has made significant strides in
improving access and transparency.
PROTECTING
THE ENVIRONMENT
The
Department has renewed its commitment to Environmental Justice. In this
20th anniversary year of the signing of Executive Order 12898, which directed
each Federal agency to make achieving environmental justice part of its
mission, the Department remains steadfast in its commitment to pursue
environmental justice for all Americans. Over the past four years, the
Department renewed its commitment to environmental justice, which is the fair
treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color,
national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. This was
done in many ways, including by working closely with other federal agencies to
coordinate environmental justice efforts, by engaging communities to an
unprecedented degree, and by achieving meaningful results for vulnerable
communities in its cases.
To summarize, the moral of my story is:
One: Respect our
public servants enough to do homework!
Two: Speak up on their behalf!
Three: Vote!
And, last but not least:
To return to my
thesis statement (or, in this case, my headline) ~
Screw You Issa !!!
G.
***Credits and a bit more information can be found linked below. As always, any corrections should be sent to me via the comments section and I will change immediately if that is required. TY
Eric Holder.
(2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 03:41, Dec 13, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/eric-holder-391612.
The AG’s photo is an official portrait. The photograph of
him and his wife is courtesy of: http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/Z8ew9I2rGI9/BET+Honors+2013+Debra+Lee+Pre+Dinner/RGMsgmiasRc/Sharon+Malone
http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-01340.html
(Vivian Malone bio)
Vivian Malone photos, courtesy of:
A big shout out to: http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2011/01/important-question-maybe-existential.html
for Issa Clown meme!
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