Trump’s Terrible Choice for Judge
Among President Trump’s worrisome nominees to the judiciary, perhaps none is as alarming as Thomas Alvin Farr, a protégé of Jesse Helms, the former North Carolina senator, and a product of the modern white supremacist machine that Mr. Helms pioneered.
Mr. Farr, nominated to serve on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, began his career as counsel for Mr. Helms’s Senate campaigns, where he participated in racist tactics to intimidate African-American voters. This alone is reason to reject his nomination, as is his apparent lying on the topic to the Senate Judiciary Committee. But Mr. Farr’s connections to Mr. Helms’s white supremacist causes and political network go much deeper.
Chris Kindred
Having lived in North Carolina since childhood, I know Mr. Helms’s racist legacy and I hold no doubts that Mr. Farr perpetuates it. An unabashed segregationist, Mr. Helms was affiliated with the Council of Conservative Citizens, an outgrowth of the White Citizens’ Councils that promoted white supremacy. Mr. Helms, who served in the Senate for 30 years, used his honorable seat to support the apartheid regime in South Africa while opposing desegregation, civil rights legislation and the creation of the Martin Luther King’s Birthday holiday in this country. Mr. Helms also belittled Carol Moseley Braun, the only black senator at the time, by singing “Dixie” to her in the Senate elevator.
Mr. Farr’s former law partner, Thomas Ellis, was Mr. Helms’s top deputy for decades. He also served as a director of the Nazi-inspired, pro-eugenics Pioneer Fund and used funding from that organization to create and bankroll a network of interlocking organizations to support Mr. Helms and other political candidates who espoused the notion of a superior white race and opposed civil rights.
Together, Mr. Helms, Mr. Ellis, and their protégé Mr. Farr unleashed a huge propaganda machine that incited hostility toward African-Americans. Mr. Farr served as a lead counsel to Mr. Helms’s 1990 Senate campaign, which ran the now-infamous “White Hands” TV television ad, designed to inflame white voter anxiety over Mr. Helms’s black opponent, Harvey Gantt. It showed a pair of white hands balling up a rejection letter while a voice said: “You needed that job and you were the best qualified. But they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota.” The same campaign also sent more than 100,000 intimidating postcards to North Carolinians, most of whom were blacks eligible to vote, wrongly suggesting they were ineligible and warning that they could be prosecuted for fraud if they tried to cast ballots.
Mr. Farr represented the Helms campaign in 1984, when it circulated photos of his opponent, Gov. Jim Hunt, with African-American leaders in an attempt to foster white resentment. The racist nature of that campaign was so pronounced that a federal court cited it as an example of how bigotry in elections continued to flourish in North Carolina politics.
A straight line runs from the racial polarization inflamed for decades by Mr. Helms and his political machine to the re-emergence of violent white supremacists in the past year in places like Charlottesville, Va.
When Mr. Farr graduated from law school, Mr. Helms and Mr. Ellis brought him into their fold. Mr. Farr joined the small law firm of Maupin, Taylor & Ellis, where all of the named partners were openly hostile to civil rights. Mr. Farr followed those lawyers to other firms and maintained a close collaboration with Mr. Ellis for at least 34 years. Mr. Farr disclosed on his Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire that he spoke “in honor of” Mr. Ellis as recently as 2007. And over decades of association with Mr. Helms and Mr. Ellis, he never publicly denounced or even faintly criticized their notorious racism and belief in white superiority.
To the contrary, Mr. Farr worked closely with Mr. Ellis to represent Mr. Helms’s agenda in court. Significantly, he represented several of the Helms entities that received large donations from the Pioneer Fund, including the Coalition for Freedom.
Most recently, Mr. Farr has carried on Mr. Helms’s legacy by helping North Carolina’s Republican-led Legislature create and defend in court discriminatory voting restrictions and electoral districts, which were eventually struck down by numerous federal courts that found them to be motivated by intentional racism. In fact, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found that the state’s 2013 voter suppression law was aimed at blacks with “almost surgical precision.”
African-Americans seeking to have their rights protected under federal law have much to fear if Mr. Farr takes the bench. This is particularly the case in the Eastern District of North Carolina, which covers an area where about half of the state’s African-American residents live and is often referred to as its Black Belt. The Eastern District has not had a black judge in its 145-year history. President Barack Obama’s attempts to desegregate this federal bench were obstructed by Senator Richard Burr, Republican of North Carolina, who blocked the vote on two highly qualified female African-American nominees and who now supports Mr. Farr’s nomination to the Eastern District.
Senators from both sides of the aisle must condemn the experience Mr. Farr brings with him. Having practiced white supremacy for decades, Mr. Farr is not likely to withdraw. Every senator who condemned the racism on display in Charlottesville must vote to prevent it from having power in the federal judiciary.
William Barber II is a co-chairman of the Poor People’s Campaign and the author of “The Third Reconstruction.”
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by WILLIAM BARBER II
There may be links in the Original Article that have not been reproduced here.
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Racism? What racism?
Trump isn't racist!
Right wing scum showing up to explain how Farr is not a racist, but anyone who calls him one, is, in 3...2...1...
Original article
by WILLIAM BARBER II
NYT Opinion
That's all the answer you need Lenny - NYT - OPINION - by a Protestant Minister who is/was the head of the NAACP in North Carolina.
'Nuff said.
No 1st, that isn't enough to say. The evidence he presents are not lies. There are plenty of facts backing up his opinion.
If you know the trend going on concerning Trump's judiciary picks....young white and male and all with some sort of alt right or white nationalist leanings! Looks real scary when you consider these are lifetime appointments. Looks like Stephen Miller is working overtime!
Where's proof that Trump is racist. Just because the three proceeding race baiter's say so is not proof. He's an equal opportunity disparager and critic, not particularly caring about your race or any other vital statistic. Perhaps if the left wingers were smart enough to run people who could win elections, they wouldn't have to whine and bitch about things the winner does and says. Midterms just down the road, fellas, better get cracking.
The article doesn't call Trump a racist, Rex, it calls Thomas Farr a racist. I believe you will consider the racism charge against him as being spurious too though.
Selective memory from the rightwing is getting a little pathetic!
Unless you're accused of a crime you didn't commit and was exonerated......then what race you are does come into play, funny how he could pardon Arpaio, but still cant admit he was wrong about men who wsa proven to be innocent!
Also for someone who is not a racist, he sure does like retweeting or quoting a lot of racist and alt right rhetoric!
But back to the topic.......I see that the only rebuttal you have is "yeah but........Hilary Clinton!"
I remember Byrd (and others) coming under fire back then. And as times and perceptions change, so did his reputation. Of course that is decades old now, and he was a senator from a distant state. Trump is the head dick, TODAY. And we've been listening to him for years, especially his campaign. He says racist things, he uses it to manipulate his base, and he defends racists (as he condemns anybody else at the drop of a hat), and we make judgement based on all that. He has now tied that racism to the republican party in a way that will be very hard to get out of. And you can't change perceptions easily, especially when it is brought out as bait for the base so often. It is what it is. Racism.
I am curious how someone that reads his tweets, listens to his campaign rhetoric, and sees the extremely monochromatic people that he hires, can have any doubt whatsoever about his racism.
Folks... All of you...
If you want to rehash the same-old-same-old about Robert Byrd, for the zillionth time... please do it elsewhere.
Thank you.
In your book, anyone repeating facts that show anything in a negative way tied to any race is Racist, unless it's against White people? Blacks commit more crimes per capita is Racist, but still a fact. Illegal immigrants are dis-proportionally from Mexico is Racist, but still a fact. On the other hand, if I say that blacks are better at basketball, then that isn't Racist, it's just a fact? If I say that Mexican's work harder, that isn't Racist, it's just a fact? If a say white men are misogynistic assholes, that's just a fact--not Racism!
I get it...
I guess the fact the Byrd fully admitted his wrongdoings and changed his views and ways......whereas Trump still insists that he did not discriminate against blacks, despite audio and video proof or refuse to acknowledge the innocence of 5 minorities and his refusal to admit he was wrong despite DNA evidence proving that he was in fact wrong.
In other words we have one racist that went from voting against civil rights to voting for the passage of Martin Luther King Jr Day, to another racist that went from discriminating against black people trying to rent housing to retweeting racist and bigoted memes......NO COMPARISON!
Now back to the topic.....anything about Trump wanting to appoint a blatant racist like this to the bench?
If you look at his companies, his hires are very diverse, all races, sexual preferences, and political beliefs are included. One his best political appointments has been Nikki Haley, of Indian immigrant descent. People are already talking about her being the first female president.
Senator Byrd's words might have changed, but his core beliefs never did.
Really?! So the fact that for the 2003-2004 session the NAACP rated Byrd's voting record as being 100% in line with their position on 36 Senate Bills they evaluated is irrelevant then? How about Byrd voting for the passage of Martin Luther King Jr Day? Please explain how his "core beliefs" didn't change and just how do you know it didn't because Byrd's actions says otherwise!
Now back to the topic.....do you think are Trump's "core beliefs" seeing as though he appointed this blatant racist to be a federal court judge?
But when you retweet a false statistic made up by a blatant racist media site, then it's no longer about facts it's about perception.....and the worst part is instead of just saying I made a mistake, instead claim no responsibility in spreading the lies and hate that is racism!
But to claim that they are the only immigrants killing and raping.....is a racist lie!
No, that's racist because you're repeating a baseless stereotype
Nah....racist again, baseless stereotype
Nope....racist again! Now if you said have small penises....it would STILL be racist! But you had to justify the rest just so you could further your agenda.
Weak.....very weak
Nikki Haley?! You mean the person who is the ambassador to the UN with absolutely no diplomatic or foreign policy experience? the same ambassador to an entity who Trump claimed is ineffectual, and obsolete?! That Nikki Haley?! Hell you would have been better of with Ben Carson! At least he has a Cabinet position! Or is it because by using Carson the truth starts to bear it's ugly head!
But back to the topic.....How many minority candidates have Trump nominated for federal judge positions?
Let's see.....a three word comment with nothing to rebut me...
I'd say I made my point completely!
She's been a governor and state representative. If I remember correctly you chose and then elected a president who had no skills or qualifications....including no diplomatic, foreign, or even domestic experience. You can't get away from your past mistakes, bro. Hillary rode the coattails of men her entire career and failed at everything she ever did...including getting elected president. TWICE!
You just described the current POTUS.
Where was that ever claimed by anyone?
Cite me the statistics on what the black to other races are in the NBA, then tell me again how baseless this is. Or are you claiming that the NBA is racially biased against other races and aren't really recruiting the best of the best to play the game???
Try to keep up.
Really? Glad to hear you finally admit it. So now that we've finally cleared the air that these White people are also getting subjected to Racist bullshit, I can expect you to step up and call people out who are engaging in it???
Just as soon as you show me FACTS that back up your claim that blacks are better at basketball than any other race! Because YOU are the one that made the broad stereotypes claiming facts with nothing to back that up! Just because there are MORE blacks in the NBA doesn’t make them better!
Dude you the one that made up this strawman argument and now using another to dig you out of that hole you’re in!
As for your link……just keep digging that hole! So just because an article claiming which COUNTRY has on average LONGEST work hours……..you think you made your point about Mexicans are the hardest workers?! Dude I work 12-16 hour days and can tell you I don’t work nowhere near as hard as the guy laying gravel on the highway or the manager of a call center who only works 8! So once again baseless stereotype
Comedy! When have I not admitted it! I think you got me confused with YOU….you cant even recognize you own racist analogies!
Really?! Facts?! Show me on fact he made. Blacks are better in basketball based on what fact? That there are more in the NBA?! Just because there are more doesn't mean it's better. Or what about Mexican are the hardest workers? harder working than whom? Because I know some Asians and Jamaicans that will call you a damn liar!........So what facts has he stated that cannot be refuted?
No YOU chose that!
I seem to remember not only was Barack Obama a STATE SENATOR but a US SENATOR as well! Obama was elected, Haley was appointed because she was supposed to be best for that position remember? So now you're making excuses!
No, science says heredity does. Try keeping up. Try harder by reading Taboo .
Your problem not mine that you don't like facts. Of course you just said that anyone who is using their mind to work instead of their hands aren't really working hard. Should we fire all those scientist and researches for being so damn lazy?
Pot, meet Kettle...
I'm never sure if you're serious when you post something like this. Or if it's pure Bad Faith .
Trump's attempt to appoint a blatant racist to the bench is a racist act.
Under this standard of guilt by association, Obama should still be in jail for the weatherman bombings.
Yep, he hung out with some domestic terrorists during his younger years in Chicago, and his real father (Frank Marshall Davis) was a communist.
So the theme of the day seems to be guilt by association. So much for that DACA thing. "Sorry kids. Even though it was years ago, you can't deny the fact that your parents came here illegally." You must go now. /s
Umm.....there's a little flaw in your logic there. The DACA kids never knew that they were illegal and when they did decided to rectify the matter LEGALLY they admitted their wrongdoing along with their parents and wanted to change what they did.......can you say the same thing about Trump?
Seems to me, at the time, there wasn't the magnitude of outrage for the "racist" element being the same as it is today. In fact, if you go back to the times and environments of the Trump and Farr "violations", there was an element of disdain against it but it didn't have the emphasis that it does now. Seems many on this board today aren't acknowledging that people can change, or evolve as dem/libs like t put it when it is one of their own, so yes. Not knowing his true heart and head, as NONE OF US DO, he had to change what he/they did. Just like many of the examples above about Byrd. If no0thing more than social pressure. If you believe there aren't closet racists all over this country, and this board I would wager........on both sides, who don't publicly display it but rather know when it is "appropriate" (bad word but hey) to express it so as not to show their true thoughts at the risk of "the label", prolly wrong............
And quite frankly, the ONLY reason they, DACA recipients, "admitted" the wrongdoing was once a "cure" or the "way out" was introduced. It wasn't a bunch that got together and decided that if they admitted it, the system would reward them for it. The way out was handed to them and THEN they got "brave".
And in case you didn't notice I did turn the sarc button off..........
True...some of their parents have been here in sanctuary city (Denver) for decades and never bothered to learn English. They're sure hot to trot about getting drivers licenses and welfare.
You know, after being a member of NT for several months, there is one thing that I have learned that has yet to fail me.
Whenever I see a seeded article (opinion piece pawned off as fact), from one of our far, far left members, even one that claims to be an independent, but never posts anything pro-right, I will believe the exact opposite.
So far, I have been right every time. This article is no different.
And, that's a fact.
At the bottom of all my seeds, you'll find something like this:
=============================
Original article
by WILLIAM BARBER II
NYT Opinion
There may be links in the Original Article that have not been reproduced here.
That is to say, links to the original article, to the author, and to the source.
What part of NYT Opinion makes you think this seed is presented as something other than "opinion"?
Or did you not read anything before posting?
The title of the article in itself tries to play the entire thing off as fact.
My post stands.
You might try reading more than just the title...
Then again... there are more than three paragraphs, so it's kinda hard for some people.
But the article explains WHY Barber holds this opinion. You should at least read the article if you haven't, so you can consider the opinion and the reasons why it is held.
Actually... almost all that's posted to "Politics" is opinion.
The Times labels its opinion pieces as such. Red meat sites (the totality of conservative posting on NT) do not, of course.
That might be a great idea... but in case you haven't noticed, our conservative members rarely read the seeds/articles they post to. They read the title, make a guess at what the text says, and then Comment on... their own guesswork.
This process explains why they are so often beside the point. It's hard to know what the point is when you haven't read it...