They (and five other allegedly Democratic Senators) must, because it’s either that or they’re total cowards who let a group known for backing Republicans, the Fraternal Order of Police, cow them by reciting the magic name of “Mumia”:
AMY GOODMAN: Senator Chris Coons of Delaware was one of the seven Democrats who voted against Debo’s nomination. He said, quote, “At a time when the Civil Rights Division urgently needs better relations with the law enforcement community, I was troubled by the idea of voting for an Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights who would face such visceral opposition from law enforcement on his first day on the job. The vote I cast today was one of the most difficult I have taken since joining the Senate, but I believe it to be right for the people I represent.”
And then there was Heidi Heitkamp, the Democratic senator who voted also to oppose Adegbile’s nomination. Her office sent a fundraising email that claimed, quote, “If there’s one thing we should all be able to agree on, it’s that every American deserves the right to vote. It’s one of our most basic rights—but right now it’s under attack.” Ryan Haygood, your response to this?
RYAN HAYGOOD: Yeah, I mean, I don’t think that could—I don’t think that could be more disingenuous, right? I think it’s well known by all in the civil rights community that Debo—some of Debo’s most important work was in the voting rights context. He would have been one of the chief champions in this moment to ensure that voters of color, in particular, aren’t made more vulnerable by the Supreme Court’s decision. He would have worked with Congress to get new voting rights legislation passed—to do precisely what Senator Heitkamp was expressing to her funders. And so, her vote against him is actually a vote against doing the thing that she promises to do here in this email to her funders.
Contact Heidi Heitkamp here (or call her DC office: Phone: 202-224-2043 Fax: 202-224-7776)
Contact Chris Coons her at his DC office (202-224-5042), his Wilmington office (302-573-6345) or his Dover office (302-736-5601 or toll free 877-668-3368).
Contact Bob Casey at his DC office (Fax: 202-228-0604, or phone: 202 224-6324), or in Philadelphia (215-405-9660 or fax 215-405-9669).
Contact Joe Donnelly at his DC office (202-224-4814 or fax 202-224-5011), or his Indianapolis office (317-226-5555 or fax 855-772-7518).
Contact Joe Manchin at his DC office (Phone: 202-224-3954
Fax: 202-228-0002), or his Charleston office (304-342-5855 or fax 304-343-7144).
Contact Mark Pryor at his DC office (Phone: 202-224-2353 Fax: 202-228-0908) or in Little Rock (Phone: 501-324-6336 Fax: 501-324-5320).
Contact John Walsh at his DC office (202-224-2651).
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