Gonzales Defends Call on Texas Plan

[deminks]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5453035,00.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales defended the Justice Department's decision to ignore staff lawyers' concerns that a Texas redistricting plan orchestrated by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay would dilute minority voting rights.

Senior agency officials, appointed by President Bush, brushed aside concerns about the possible impact on minority voting and approved the new districts for the 2004 elections.

Gonzales said the plan was approved by people ``confirmed by the Senate to exercise their own independent judgment'' and their disagreement with other agency employees doesn't mean the final decision was wrong.

Eight department staffers, including the heads of the Voting Rights Division, objected to the redistricting map, according to the memo which was first reported in Friday editions of The Washington Post.

Texas Democrats, some who had been told years ago that agency staff had objected to the plan, were outraged.

[Ezlivin]

1. They only listen to the staff when they AGREE

That's how this whole fair-and-balanced, non-partisan gov't works, don't you know?

[RufusEarl]

2. Justice Dept!

This is what concerns me about this justice dept, what's to keep them from let's say white washing the Abramoff case?

[UTUSN]

3. TORTURE Them Staff!!!! n/t

[leQ]

4. republicans defending republicans who were appointed by republicans

who were elected *cough* by republicans

dizzy yet?

[Vinca]

5. Dizzy and nauseated.

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[0007]

6. Keep talking it up Mr. Gonzales

The roof is gonna cave in on you too. Your are a pretty slick theif. Not.

[Supersedeas]

7. Eight Dept staffers have nothing on Gonzo, Delay and Crew

[warrens]

8. We should redistrict Repukes out of existence in blue states

and use Texas and Georgia as precedent.