There's an op-ed worth reading in today's LA Times, by Joseph D. Rich. Rich, according to the bio supplied with the article, was "chief of the voting section in the Justice Department's civil right division from 1999 to 2005."
Rich makes the case that the recent news of political maneuvering at the Justice Department is no recent thing, but has been going on for the past six or so years. Of particular note: he describes the complete lack of any JD prosecutions concerning voting rights cases and a push to stomp hard on voter fraud. (Let's play Jeopardy … the correct question is: "What are the two best ways for the Justice Department to suppress minority turnout at the polls?")
I'm a bit cynical about Rich suddenly finding the stones to bring this up now, after having been part of the scenery, if not part of the problem, lo these many years. But, maybe he was trying to do the right thing from within, or maybe he had a change of heart, or maybe he finished paying off his kids' college bills. Or maybe, he's wanted to say this all along, and finally felt that someone besides us terrorist-loving lefty bloggers was ready to hear it. Or maybe, piling on is the only way to fight a colossus like the W administration (used to be?).
Whatever the underlying motivations, there are some worthwhile details. Better late than never, in any case.
Hat tip to Chris Suellentrop, aka the Opinionater, for the link.
Update
2007-03-29 21:10 EDT
More on voter fraud, or more precisely, "The Myth Of Voter Fraud," in the WaPo. Hat tip, Matt Y.
Update
2007-03-30 16:13 EDT
Salon's lead story for today, "Bush's long history of politicizing justice," has more on the dismantling of the DOJ's dismantling of its Civil Rights division, including reference to Joseph Rich's testifying before Congress on the matter.
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