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Big Mac · Jul 31, 2009, 04:18 AM

I'm sure many of you will recall the minor controversy during last November's elections when members of the New Black Panther Party were recorded intimidating voters outside of a polling place in Philadelphia with a menacing physical presence and racist threats. And you probably recall that not too many months afterward the DOJ decided to drop its case against the group in spite of conduct that clearly violated the 1964 Voting Rights Act.

Now the Washington Times has uncovered the fact that the case was dropped after the government had won a summary judgment (because the defendants did not even bother appearing in court), and furthermore that the decision to drop the case was made by Obama political appointees at Justice; this was a decision that was made in opposition to the recommendations of the top career lawyers who strongly urged that the case continue forward. (You may want to find a different article on the story because the Washington Times article has a very annoying, Safari 4-evading, recurring popup.)

Although they deny it, the clear implication is that the case was killed by political appointees of the new Obama Administration who chose not to pursue a violation of law committed by individuals who were in support of Obama's ascension to power. People, white and black alike, at the polls that day complained that they were disturbed the misconduct of these Obama supporters, even to the point of fearing for their lives. The Voting Rights Act of 1964 made threats, intimidation and coercion at polling places illegal. This action by the incoming Obama Administration leaves one with the impression that even with clear video evidence of wrongdoing, coercion at the polls is legal as long as its coercion of those perceived to be anti-Obama. It also reinforces the view that many now have about President Obama that he isn't post-race or above racial politics, a view bolstered by Obama's immediate rush to use the race card in defense of his friend Professor Gates.

Anyone care to defend the apparently biased decision to kill this case?

subego · Jul 31, 2009, 09:04 AM

"The structure of the Heavens BEING DISTURBED IS THE SUPERCHARGING OF THE IONOSPHERE, AND THE MICROWAVE BEAM ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY - PUT UP IN SATELLITES IN 1994 BY CLINTON-GORE-HILLARY, WHICH CAN BROADCAST VOICES INTO YOUR HEAD, TO MAKE YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING INSANE..."

Sorry, got distracted by one of the WT banner ads.

As to the story, I'd agree that Justice seems dodgy on this one.

SpaceMonkey · Jul 31, 2009, 09:16 AM

I'd only point out that according to your linked article, not all of the charges were dropped, and part of the motivation seems to have been because the DOJ decided that it didn't want to link the national NBPP organization to the crime after the party issued a strong denunciation of the incident and cut off the Philly chapter. I agree it's a little sketchy though.

turtle777 · Jul 31, 2009, 09:38 AM

We all know how this would have ended if Republican backing groups had intimidated Democratic voters...

-t

stumblinmike · Jul 31, 2009, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

We all know how this would have ended if Republican backing groups had intimidated Democratic voters...

-t

They would all receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Karl Rove?

Shaddim · Jul 31, 2009, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

We all know how this would have ended if Republican backing groups had intimidated Democratic voters...

-t

All I know is, if white people had dressed up in their bed linens and oppressed blacks, there would have been national guard in the streets and people behind bars right now. (and rightly so)

turtle777 · Jul 31, 2009, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by stumblinmike

They would all receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Karl Rove?

Is that equivalent of what happened here ?
Does that equate to a Presidential Medal of Freedom Obama ?

-t

stumblinmike · Jul 31, 2009, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Is that equivalent of what happened here ?
Does that equate to a Presidential Medal of Freedom Obama ?

-t

Hardly. EVERYONE knows Rove is the epitome of evil, while Obama is on a mission from god. Apples and oranges..

finboy · Jul 31, 2009, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

We all know how this would have ended if Republican backing groups had intimidated Democratic voters...

-t

Gunfire?

Don't know that there's a precedent for Republicans doing that kind of thing. Even in the old South, it was Democrats keeping blacks out of the polls.

shifuimam · Jul 31, 2009, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

part of the motivation seems to have been because the DOJ decided that it didn't want to link the national NBPP organization to the crime after the party issued a strong denunciation of the incident and cut off the Philly chapter. I agree it's a little sketchy though.

It doesn't matter who they were affiliated with or who they pretended to be affiliated with. What they did was completely illegal, regardless of whether or not the larger Black Panther organization supported it, and it should be treated as such.

turtle777 · Jul 31, 2009, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

It doesn't matter who they were affiliated with or who they pretended to be affiliated with. What they did was completely illegal, regardless of whether or not the larger Black Panther organization supported it, and it should be treated as such.

But haven't you heard, things have CHANGEd now.

-t

SpaceMonkey · Jul 31, 2009, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by shifuimam

It doesn't matter who they were affiliated with or who they pretended to be affiliated with. What they did was completely illegal, regardless of whether or not the larger Black Panther organization supported it, and it should be treated as such.

Right, but the issue is that some of the charges were against the larger Black Panther organization, in addition to there being charges against the specific individuals involved. The charges against the national organization were among the ones dropped.

ort888 · Jul 31, 2009, 11:02 PM

When will the white people of America finally be free from this awful black oppression?

turtle777 · Aug 1, 2009, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by ort888

When will the white people of America finally be free from this awful black oppression?

When we get a black president.

-t

shifuimam · Aug 1, 2009, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

Right, but the issue is that some of the charges were against the larger Black Panther organization, in addition to there being charges against the specific individuals involved. The charges against the national organization were among the ones dropped.

Okay, that makes more sense - the larger organization shouldn't be held responsible for the actions of a particular faction within it. The guys who were actively intimidating voters need to be prosecuted.

subego · Aug 1, 2009, 10:08 AM

Looking all this over, I'm a bit surprised that the Voting Rights Act only allows for a civil injunction against people who are found guilty of intimidation at a polling place. Most other violations of the bill get you 5 in the pokey.

The best I can guess is any criminal charges are supposed to be taken care of locally, and/or they want to give everyone a second chance and save the hammer for those who then violate the injunction.