NADLER: Again-GOP Only Interested in Some of Constitution-Banishes Civil Rights & Civil Liberties

[kpete]

Source: Nadler Press Release

NADLER: Again, GOP Only Interested in Some of the Constitution, Banishes Civil Rights and Civil Liberties from Judiciary Committee
Friday, 07 January 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who has served as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties since 2007, responded to news that the Republican-led Judiciary Committee will change the name of the Subcommittee to the “Constitution Subcommittee.” He issued the following statement:

“Once again, the new Republican majority has shown that it isn’t quite as committed to the Constitution as its recent lofty rhetoric would indicate. Today, it has yet again shown its contempt for key portions of the document – the areas of civil rights and civil liberties – by banishing those words from the title of the Constitution Subcommittee. In 1995, when Newt Gingrich became Speaker, one of the Republicans’ first acts was to change the name of that Subcommittee. For anyone who thought the change was merely for rhetorical purposes, our experience over 12 years of Republican rule showed just how hostile they are to individual rights and liberties. With this move, we can only assume that they are intent on more of the same. It is going to be a long and difficult struggle to protect these cherished rights and liberties from assaults by the Republican majority.

“Republicans have made a great deal of noise in recent days about standing up for the Constitution. But, in less than 48 hours, they have already revealed their true intentions. In addition to reading selectively from the Constitution on the House floor in a much-exalted ceremony on Thursday, Republicans also blatantly violated the Constitution by allowing two of their Members to vote without having been sworn-in, and introduced unconstitutional legislation aimed at bypassing the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause. And, with the Subcommittee name change, they are again telling Americans that only some parts of the Constitution matter. Fundamental rights and liberties appear to have been dropped from the Constitution by far-right ideologues.

“As the incoming Ranking Democratic Member on the newly renamed Constitution Subcommittee, I will resume my role leading the fight against the anti-civil liberties and anti-civil rights agenda of the extremist Republican majority.”

Read more: http://nadler.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1582&Itemid=132

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[Tippy]

2. K&R

[GeorgeGist]

3. They're playing to their base ...

peckerwoods.