Skeptic Project

During the Bush administration, political leadership of the Civil Rights Division illegally made career hiring decisions based on ideology, a Justice Department report concluded. Bradley Schlozman was found to have violated federal law, referring to attorneys in the Voting Section as "mold spores," and hiring conservatives he dubbed "good Americans."

But in a draft of a report they will vote on tomorrow, the conservative-controlled U.S. Commission on Civil Rights -- which didn't seem to take an interest in those allegations a few years ago -- chalks those violations of law up to "ideological conflict."

If the press cared so much about the politicization that took place during the Bush administration, the report says, then reporters should be all over over the allegations against the Obama administration made by two individuals with ties to that politicization.

"During the Bush administration, the press reported ideological conflict within the Division," the report says. Referring to the allegations made by J. Christian Adams (who was hired by Schlozman) and Christopher Coates (who Schlozman called a "member of the team."), the report says that if "the testimony before the Commission is true, the current conflicts extend beyond policy differences to encompass allegations of inappropriately selective enforcement of laws, harassment of dissenting employees, and alliances with outside interest groups, at odds with the rule of law."

"These issues need to be thoroughly investigated and properly resolved or public confidence in the Civil Rights Division will be seriously eroded," the report continues.

Conservatives on the commission are examining the Justice Department's handling of the New Black Panther Party case as well as what they say is a culture in the Voting Section and Civil Rights Division they say is opposed to the enforcement of race-neutral law.

As of last month, they had spent nearly $175,000 on their 2010 Enforcement Report, which focuses on the New Black Panther Party case and the allegations made by Adams and Coates. Due to what they say is a lack of cooperation by the Justice Department, much or the report relies on media accounts.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/civil_rights_commission_chalks_ups_bush_doj_illega.php