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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Houstonian Approach to Impeachment
In the 1930s, when segregation was the law of the land, sanctioned by the U.S. Supreme Court, and embedded into governmental, social, educational policy, Charles Hamilton Houston, the dean of Howard Law School and his student and protege, Thurgood Marshall began mapping out a strategy for overturning Plessy v. Ferguson, the case that gave us "separate but equal."
Their strategy was complex and would require a long series of incremental cases over many years that would gradually build the case for overturning Plessy. Many people in the legal and political community were harshly critical of this plan, attacking Houston, Marshall, and the NAACP lawyers, saying incrementalism was too slow and displayed weakness when they needed to show strength. They badgered them to go at Plessy head on. But Houston and Marshall knew that if they did, they would lose and Plessy would be forever cemented into American jurisprudence and life.
So, they tuned out the naysayers and stayed on the path, carefully and brilliantly laying the groundwork for an eventual assault on Plessy.
And it paid off when in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously overturned Plessy, thanks to the long line of cases and extensive record laid out by Houston and Marshall over more than two decades. Unfortunately, Houston didn't live to see the decision, and many people have no idea who he is today. But there's a reason that Houston is known in many quarters as "The Man Who Killed Jim Crow." He's a national hero.
I look at impeachment the same way that Houston looked at the desegregation fight. While it may feel satisfying to launch an all out impeachment assault immediately, it's not the smart move. Pelosi and the other Democrats are following Houstonian process, carefully laying the groundwork so that their efforts actually have results beyond the initially satisfying but ultimately Pyrrhic short-term outcome. Of course, unlike in Brown, we're not looking at decades or years. We're looking at weeks or months. But in the scheme of things, those weeks and months are worth it in order to achieve the end we're all seeking.
You can read more about Houston here: http://newsreel.org/transcripts/roadtob.htm
R. P. McMurphy
(833 posts)You don't dally when you're trying to save a burning house.
coti
(4,612 posts)One is appeasement and aimless and one had an actual goal in mind.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)"Bring out the backhoe Charlie. We're going to dig him up so we can formally impeach his ass!"
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)If you want to be a smartass, proving that you havent read the post or commenting on isnt the way to go...
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)How is overturning a Supreme Court decision is similar to following law prescribed by the Constitution? I understand perfectly well what the OP is trying to say: It is of utmost importance to properly lay the groundwork so that there can be no refuting the evidence or procedure. This is not, however, remotely equivalent to attacking a monolithic institution like segregation.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)Thanks for sharing it!
Dont worry about the snarky comments. Some things are just too deep for something. Thoughtful people will take your point - and appreciate your efforts to illuminate these discussions.
brer cat
(24,402 posts)UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)hearing? Do we have time for this groundwork in the courts?
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Starting an impeachment now won't speed up the process for obtaining testimony or documents since the process for obtaining them is the same whether they're being sought for impeachment or for oversight.
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)I like the way that Pelosi, Nadler, Schiff and Cummings are building a solid record for their actions. I think that doing impeachment right now is a mistake without the proper record and enough public support to shame some GOP senators into voting for removal.
I am personal friends with Congressman Al Green and have been a speaker at a couple of his town halls on voting rights. I disagree with his efforts to get a vote on article on impeachment right now
BTW a friend in the local Democratic Lawyers Association wrote a nice book on impeachment https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210175744 Barbara is a good lawyer and a great Democrat (she ran for Senate in a year where Democrats had little chance just to help the party)