[1]The drama created by Governor McAuliffe isn’t going away. It is yet another distraction in a series of distractions that are currently gutting Virginia’s economic standing nationwide.
With regards to predicament of judicial appointments, try as the Democrats might to compare their attempt to gavel the State Senate adjourned sine die as the shad treatment, it would appear as if the African-American community is feeling a very different sort — namely the Heisman Treatment [2], as Mr. Terone Green explains in this morning’s RTD:
Given this pointed self-description, the Caucus clearly appears to have betrayed its own mission in its decision to deny a Virginia Supreme Court judgeship to African-American Appeals Court Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. In fact, the Caucus’ decision to court the women’s vote by supporting Supreme Court Justice Jane Marum Roush over Alston not only betrays its own mission, but has also denied Virginia an opportunity to make history by leading the nation on the number of black justices on its highest court.
To betray its own mission and thereby deny Virginia an opportunity to make history is one thing. But for at least seven other key reasons, the Black Caucus finds itself on the wrong side of history on this one.
Oof.
This op-ed is extremely good… carefully written, thoughtfully explained. This line in particular set my mind at ease, especially given all the hand-wringing recently over immigration and race:
To the Republicans’ credit, this controversy has shone a spotlight on what it looks like to judge someone, as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. put it, “on the content of their character” rather than the color of their skin. McAuliffe has constantly pushed Roush because of her gender, saying how it would look bad if the Republicans rejected her. The Republicans, on the other hand, had not brought up race or gender in their support of Alston — only his stellar character and qualifications. That is a refreshing turnabout that is well worth noting.
In an era where McAuliffe and the Democrats seem more willing to play politics rather than govern, voices such as Green’s that rise up and speak truth are beyond valued. In fact, its the sentiment that builds movements. Black judges matter, folks.
Read it all [2].