A spokesman for Barack Obama (D-IL) sent us a statement decrying John Tanner’s announced resignation today from his post as Chief of the DoJ Civil Rights Division’s voting section, charging that his move to another post within the Civil Rights division amounts to little more than “simply shuffling deck chairs.”
Obama had previously called upon the Attorney General to fire Tanner outright for his offensive, and inaccurate remarks, as first reported by The BRAD BLOG, that minorities “don’t grow elderly the way white people do. They die first.”
Obama’s statement in full…
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chair of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, joins Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) on the other hand, in applauding the removal of Tanner from his post, saying in a statement (posted in full below) that “John Tanner’s resignation as Voting Section Chief at the Department of Justice provides the department with an opportunity to renew its commitment to the real problems facing voters and elections.”
“I am hopeful that Mr. Tanner’s replacement will mark a departure from efforts to limit the participation of elderly and minority voters, and actually serve to remove obstacles to participation in the political process,” said the elderly, but not-dead, African-American Congressman and voter from Michigan.
The complete statement from Conyers and Nadler follows below in full…
For Immediate Release: December 14, 2007
Conyers and Nadler Applaud Resignation of Voting Section Chief Tanner
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties today remarked on the resignation of John Tanner as Chief of the Justice Department’s Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division.
“John Tanner’s resignation as Voting Section Chief at the Department of Justice provides the department with an opportunity to renew its commitment to the real problems facing voters and elections,” said Conyers. “Under the current administration, the Department of Justice has a remarkably poor record of protecting voting rights. I am hopeful that Mr. Tanner’s replacement will mark a departure from efforts to limit the participation of elderly and minority voters, and actually serve to remove obstacles to participation in the political process.”
“Mr. Tanner had a clear record of undermining the core mission of the section — protecting the right to vote,” said Nadler. “In October, my subcommittee held an investigation of the Section, where it became clear that Mr. Tanner was actively seeking to curtail that cornerstone of American democracy. The right to vote is the foundation of all our liberties and it must be protected. The departure of Mr. Tanner presents an opportunity for a fresh start of the Voting Section. I urge the Bush Administration to take this opportunity to take politics out of voting rights enforcement by appointing a new chief with a commitment to the letter and the spirit of the Voting Rights Act.”
Hey, there are really good threads to read over at TPM on the tanner articles. I hope Obama takes note.
The only fellow who can take out Clinton…
…most of the people I talk to, some that even think they have pockets full of tax refund money (R’s), would vote for Obama if he gets the nod.
Geez, Tanner better hope Obama never gets elected. Because the first thing he might do after inauguration, is buy a pit-bull, take it down to his new job at the Office of Special Counsel for Immigrant-Related Unfair Employment Practices, and sic it on him, LOL……
Bush agrees that moving him is not enough, but “the debil is in de tales”.
Bush wants to give him a medal of honor and Obama wants to give him metal handcuffs.
a la Gonzo …
Hey Bigger Thomas, a world of thanks to you and fellow employees for hanging tough! Hopefully enough people will put the pressure on now to completely get rid of tanner. Lord knows, he doesn’t belong anywhere near the DOJ.