Fred Thompson presents an overview of the issues surrounding the nomination of Judge Leslie Southwick in his commentary, “Judge Southwick Should Be Confirmed”, on the I’mWithFred website. He then published a brief article, “Follow up on Judge Southwick” when the nomination passed the Judiciary Committee by a slim 10-9 vote.
Confirmthem.com is a website that investigates issues related to judicial nominees and provides background information on those nominees and the nomination process. They have provided a profile of Judge Southwick and links to the actual opinions that those opposing this nomination have cited in their objections. It can be enlightening to seek the facts and not rely on rumor and biased accusations.
Stuart Taylor, webcommentary.com, provides some background on this nomination, and offers some interesting insight into the obstructive tactics now employed by the Democrats in his article, “Stuart Taylor on Judges”. Following is an excerpt from that article.
Southwick also wears a distinctive badge of courageous service to his country. After joining the Army Reserve in 1992, at age 42, he volunteered in 2003 to transfer into a Mississippi National Guard combat unit that would soon be sent overseas.
He was on active duty in Iraq (and on leave from his judgeship) from August 2004 to January 2006.
So it was not surprising that Southwick’s nomination to a federal District Court seat won unanimous, bipartisan Senate Judiciary Committee approval late last year. After the 109th Congress ended without a floor vote on his nomination, President Bush named Southwick to fill a vacancy on the 5th Circuit. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy told Republican colleagues that they expected committee approval and a floor vote within a few months.
Then began the attacks by liberal interest groups, and the same Judiciary Committee Democrats who had voted to confirm Southwick last year got cold feet. People for the American Way and the Human Rights Campaign led the charge. Their joint May 8 letter [PDF] to the Judiciary Committee accused Southwick of “highly disturbing” votes and “a problematic record on civil rights” lacking the requisite “commitment to social justice progress.” The Congressional Black Caucus objected especially to the nominee’s whiteness, as to that of Bush’s nine other judicial nominees in 37 percent black Mississippi. The New York Times denounced Southwick for “a disturbing history of insensitivity to blacks and other minority groups.”
With the current Democrat majority, no nomination can make it out of committee without a Democrat vote. The lone Democrat defector, Dianne Feinstein of California, is already taking extreme heat from Democrats and the usual special interest groups on the left.
The far left factions have seized control of the Democrat Party, and it has become unacceptable for any Democrat to vote outside of these fringe elements, or face the fury of these marginal groups. This extreme ideology is demonstrated daily in the words and actions of the Democrat leaders. But when the American people loudly voice their objections, as was done with the “Comprehensive Immigration (amnesty) Bill”, all but the outer periphery of the extreme fringe must take notice.
The integrity of the courts and the judicial nomination process is as important to the future of America as any other issue. The Southwick nomination is out of committee, but there will be a furious battle in the Senate as the special interest groups rally to “encourage” Senators to block the nomination. We must pay close attention to all of these nominees, and prevent the insertion of the pure politics of obstruction. Do not forget what can be accomplished by the strong voice of the American people.
The profound consequences of these judicial appointments may not be immediately evident, but they will either reward us or haunt us for many years to come. As the liberals like to say, we need to do it “for the children.”
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