Black Activists Praise Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Decision; Justices' Ruling Throws Sotomayor Nomination into Serious Question

/PRNewswire/ -- With the U.S. Supreme Court dealing a stinging blow to race-based employment practices, members of the Project 21 black leadership network are praising the Ricci v. DeStefano decision as a step toward removing the racial trappings of a by-gone era and putting all Americans on equal footing.

"It was clear to this Court that barring people from promotion because of the color of their skin is wrong. The only downside is that four justices still cling to an outmoded and discriminatory line of thought," said Project 21 chairman Mychal Massie. "True equality allows people to rise and fall on their merits. That's what this decision protects. How can one oppose such fairness?"

In a 5-4 decision, the Court reversed the lower court ruling, barring the use of race as the sole factor in promotions. In his majority opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, "Fear of litigation alone cannot justify the City's reliance on race to the detriment of individuals who passed the examinations and qualified for promotions."

The decision also casts serious doubt on the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. She was a member of the appeals court panel that issued the one-paragraph opinion overturned today. Now, she must explain to senators how she could be so much at odds with her potential future colleagues.

"Justice is supposed to be blind, but the opinion she joined in the Ricci case - now overturned by the Supreme Court - shows Sonia Sotomayor believes justice should be based on ethnicity," added Project 21's Massie. "Her ruling in Ricci is an unambiguous example of her placing her feelings and personal prejudices above what the law dictates or allows."

Fayette County Justs Keep Flaming with Recent Ethics Complaint and Banning Gay Contact for Children of Divorce Case

VWV Note: Just what Fayette County needs. Another nationwide scandal in our own backyard. First, it was the admitted recent illegal behavior of an elected official that has everyone up in flames, and now, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned a ruling in a divorce case in which the children were banned from being around the gay friends and associates of one of the divorce parties. Kind of makes me want to put my head in the sand. Oh wait. I think that's been the problem down here. We should all be paying attention to what is happening around us and the nation in these trying times.

More reading:

Court throws out ban on exposing children to gays http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2009/06/15/court_divorce_ban_gays.html

Fayette Citizens for Open Government Applauds Filing of Ethics Violation http://www.fayettefrontpage.com/politics-09/6-15-09_fay-cog-horgan.htm

Do You Hear the Sounds in the Air?

VWV Note: All for one? Is there a real movement in the wind? It's certainly not being chatted about on the main stream news. After all, this morning, an ABC news type employee said conservatives think the law should be followed when picking a supreme court judge. Gasp! How could they? Follow the law and not your feelings?

Thought you'd be interested in seeing the following:


Richard Viguerie: Congratulations, President Obama, You've United the Entire Conservative Movement

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, regarding President Obama's nomination of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court:

"The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor unites all wings of the conservative movement -- economic, foreign policy, social, traditional, neocon, and libertarian -- in a way we haven't seen since the early Clinton years.

"Judge Sotomayor frightens all conservatives. As the debate over her nomination heats up, conservatives will provide the primary opposition to Sotomayor and will quickly launch a massive educational campaign using direct mail, the Internet, talk radio, cable TV, YouTube, and other forms of new and alternative media.

"It was sad to read that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's comment on the Sotomayor nomination reflected the typical reaction Americans have come to expect from Republican politicians when he said that Republicans will reserve judgment on Sotomayor.

"No wonder conservatives now look to talk show hosts and other unelected conservatives for leadership, rather then wet-finger Republican politicians who always seeming to be waiting to see the direction of the political winds.

"It remains to be seen how active and effective Republican politicians will be on this historic fight, but conservatives are on the field, engaged, and ready to battle President Obama and all U.S. Senators who support Sotomayor."