Message-Id: <199711191256.HAA25403@europe.std.com>
To: c-news@world.std.com
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 16:13:35 -0600 (CST)
From: emanuelson@mail.utexas.edu (Kenneth Thomas Emanuelson)
Subject: C-NEWS: Bill Lann Lee Vote Stalled!
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Reply-To: emanuelson@mail.utexas.edu (Kenneth Thomas Emanuelson)
Status:  O


LEE VOTE A TRIUMPH FOR EQUALITY UNDER LAW,
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE SAYS

Washington, D.C. - The Senate Judiciary Committee's decision today not to
confirm Bill Lann Lee as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights was 
"a
big step forward for Americans who believe their government should stop
classifying people on the basis of race," says Clint Bolick, 
vice-president
of the Washington-based Institute for Justice, which issued a report
critical of the nomination.

	"Nine senators made the party of Lincoln proud today," declared Bolick.
"In the face of strident racial politics and intimidation, Chairman Hatch
and his colleagues stood firm for principles that the majority of 
Americans
share."

	Committee Democrats refused to allow a vote, knowing they did not have 
the
ten votes necessary to send the nomination forward.  "The Democrats are
prolonging the agony by refusing to allow a vote," Bolick said.  "As he 
did
with Lani Guinier, Clinton should withdraw the nomination."

	The issues motivating Republicans included Lee's legal assault on
California's Proposition 209, which outlaws racial preferences, and his
inability to identify any preferences he believes are unconstitutional 
under
recent Supreme Court precedents-dents.

	"In light of concerns about Lee's willingness to enforce the law, it's
curious that Lee's supporters would bring in Jesse Jackson, who has spent
the last month trying to convince California public officials to defy
Proposition 209," Bolick observed.

	The nomination's supporters have called opposition to Lee "anti-Asian," 
and
have suggested that opponents are racists.  "They refuse to defend his
record and instead have played the race card.  The rhetoric is
reprehensible, and frankly it proves our case," Bolick declared

______________________________________________________________________

   Kenneth Thomas Emanuelson
   University of Texas School of Law

   "Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and
    car keys to teenage boys." - P.J. O'Rourke
______________________________________________________________________

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