Holder admits: No, I haven’t read the Arizona law I’ve been dumping on
posted at 7:20 pm on May 13, 2010 by Allahpundit
I don’t know what to say. Actually, wait — yes I do. Click here and see for yourself how long Arizona’s new law is. You don’t even have to read all of it; most of the contentious stuff is in Article 8, Section B on page one. (Which has since been amended to eliminate racial profiling concerns, don’t forget.) This guy’s been out there dumping on it left and right and he couldn’t devote 10 minutes to critically considering what he’s been dumping on. But then, why should he? This is pure election-year politics from the White House, nothing more or less. Why expect the Attorney General to behave any differently?
“I’ve just expressed concerns on the basis of what I’ve heard about the law. But I’m not in a position to say at this point, not having read the law, not having had the chance to interact with people are doing the review, exactly what my position is,” Mr. Holder told the House Judiciary Committee.
This weekend Mr. Holder told NBC’s “Meet the Press” program that the Arizona law “has the possibility of leading to racial profiling.” He had earlier called the law’s passage “unfortunate,” and questioned whether the law was unconstitutional because it tried to assume powers that may be reserved for the federal government.
Rep. Ted Poe, who had questioned Mr. Holder about the law, wondered how he could have those opinions if he hadn’t yet read the legislation.
“It’s hard for me to understand how you would have concerns about something being unconstitutional if you haven’t even read the law,” the Texas Republican told the attorney general.
I can’t find a standalone clip but you can watch by clicking the image below and skipping ahead to 2:45:05. Here’s the money question, prompted not just by Holder’s ignorance but the fact that Hillary criticized the statute without having read it either: Are they deliberately not reading it so that they have an excuse to walk back their criticisms later if this gets too hot politically? “The law wasn’t properly explained to me initially” is a lot more forgivable than “I read it but it turns out I was too dumb and/or demagogic to understand it.” This is nothing but buck-passing, isn’t it?
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Someone should rip it and upload it to youtube…
ninjapirate on May 13, 2010 at 7:23 PM
Douchebag, douche thyself.
JammieWearingFool on May 13, 2010 at 7:25 PM
If you want Holder’s attention just yell PARDON! He’ll be right there.
GarandFan on May 13, 2010 at 7:25 PM
“Nancy Pelosi told me not to read thbe bill so that I can be surprised by what’s not in it.”
GreenBlade on May 13, 2010 at 7:26 PM
This is the M.O. of the entire Obama administration and of the entire Democrat, liberal Congress. Remember, Nancy’s says to vote on the bill then read it. This just goes beyond incompetence.
mobydutch on May 13, 2010 at 7:26 PM
Hey, Hillary failed the D.C. bar exam, so there’s a good possibility that she would not have understood the AZ law even if she had bothered to read it first before criticizing it.
AZCoyote on May 13, 2010 at 7:27 PM
If you don’t read it you can say” Oh I didn’t know and retrac everything you said…..
wheels on May 13, 2010 at 7:28 PM
For Holder, cluelessness is its own reward.
SlaveDog on May 13, 2010 at 7:28 PM
I have no words to properly explain my disgust for what I see happening to this nation.
truetexan on May 13, 2010 at 7:28 PM
I know you get the government you deserve but this is approaching abject absurdity
Defector01 on May 13, 2010 at 7:28 PM
He doesn’t have to read the law, because he and the rest of the 0bama regime ARE the law – at least in their own minds.
Rebar on May 13, 2010 at 7:29 PM
So the lawmakers of this nation neither write nor read the laws they support and vote for, and the nation’s highest law enforcement officer doesn’t read laws he’s vocally critical of. Add to this the fact that the highest authority of the U.S. treasury doesn’t fell the need to pay his taxes, and I’m beginning to think the only difference between policy makers in D.C. and law breakers in prison is the bars. D.C. is lawless in its legality.
Weight of Glory on May 13, 2010 at 7:30 PM
This racist thug idiot has spent the better part of a week denouncing this bill while referring to it as a license to profile, therefore racist… All of this while not even having read the bill. Shame on the lame stream media for not forcing this man to answer questions that would have revealed this information sooner. Racist power crazed thugs are what these people are all about. No character, no integrity, no shame, no humility… Pure 100% disgusting bottom dwellers.
Keemo on May 13, 2010 at 7:30 PM
“I’ve been too busy making sure we have watertight cases and paid-off judges to put away all of Obama’s loudest detractors”
~Holder
Inanemergencydial on May 13, 2010 at 7:31 PM
Eric Holder acted stupidly.
Desert Gardens on May 13, 2010 at 7:31 PM
Because he knows it’s a state law that deals with immigration. And immigration law is the responsibility of the federal government. That’s pretty much all you need to know in order to say it’s probably unconstitutional.
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 7:31 PM
More and more unbelievable…I cannot believe this whole obama nightmare ends well..nor quietly…
winston on May 13, 2010 at 7:31 PM
“Reading and comprehension are not among the skill set that I bring to this job. Axe me another question.”
GnuBreed on May 13, 2010 at 7:31 PM
Possibly. Or because it gives them free reign to attack “what I’ve been told about it” rather than what it actually says. He has the ability to plead ignorance and “word of mouth” knowledge than directly being accused of having read it and lied.
amerpundit on May 13, 2010 at 7:31 PM
Holder: I didn’t actually read the AZ law, but I know it’s evil and racist and unconstitutional because other people who also didn’t read the law told me that it is.
AZCoyote on May 13, 2010 at 7:31 PM
Dirt. Bag.
Scrappy on May 13, 2010 at 7:32 PM
Holder should step down. For the AG of the US to dump on a law in public multiple times that he hasn’t read shows he has no respect for the law or the lawmakers who drew up the law or for the CITIZENS of Arizona and this country.
Holder- resignation papers on Obama’s desk by 8am tomorrow. Okay?
journeyintothewhirlwind on May 13, 2010 at 7:32 PM
Nah. They know what’s in it. It’s political theater for their base. Nothing more. Never mind that the law simply restates the laws already passed by Congress. Arizona is wrong to, uh, agree with, uh, make that restate, the age old law of the land.
Quite an interesting game they have going on in Washington these days. Call a terrorist a terrorist? Racist. Oppose illegal border jumpers? Racist. Disagree with the Obama administration? Racist. ad infinitum.
Guardian on May 13, 2010 at 7:35 PM
That being said, as the AG, he should have read the law before commenting on it. Or at least qualified his statements with “from what I’ve heard”.
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 7:36 PM
And there are how many lawyers at the DOJ?
Obama-Speak, the fusion of sophistry and Newspeak. Some think it is a gift, most know it for what it is, just lies.
tarpon on May 13, 2010 at 7:36 PM
What a Schlamiel
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 7:36 PM
Who’s profiling now?
califdreamnred on May 13, 2010 at 7:37 PM
Give the guy a break, when he’s not making terrorist conjugal visits, he’s running Black Panther rallies.
There’s only so much time in the day.
NoDonkey on May 13, 2010 at 7:37 PM
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 7:36 PM
You’re expectations of the AG are truly bothersome. You must not hold much esteem for this role in our government.
Keemo on May 13, 2010 at 7:38 PM
1) No it doesn’t. It’s broader than the federal law.
2) Even if it was identical, it’s still unconstitutional to the extent it interferes with or burdens federal enforcement or administration of immigration law.
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 7:38 PM
Nation of Cowards…..
Mebbe he’s ascairt to read it….
BigWyo on May 13, 2010 at 7:39 PM
Nice how the Senator rubbed Holder’s nose in the fact that the law is only 10 pages long.
LASue on May 13, 2010 at 7:39 PM
They have no shame. They have no fear.
mobydutch on May 13, 2010 at 7:39 PM
Super-Boob
fogw on May 13, 2010 at 7:39 PM
Huh? I said he should have read it before commenting it.
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 7:39 PM
The general argument hasn’t been that the state law interferes with federal responsibility (which the federal government hasn’t been living up to). It deals with racism and racial profiling.
The Attorney General shouldn’t be criticizing law, regardless of whether he considers it a no-brainer, until he’s actually read it. The head of the Department of Justice can take time to read short legislation before commenting.
amerpundit on May 13, 2010 at 7:39 PM
By the way, I like how the left suddenly finds apparent overstepping of a government’s authority to be unconstitutional. Parody-proof.
amerpundit on May 13, 2010 at 7:40 PM
Once you come to the realization that Obama and those in his administration are almost all either psychopaths or morons all this becomes very easy to understand.
Clearly Holder has the mentality of a lynch mob. Verdict first, evidence later, if at all.
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 7:42 PM
‘Everything I know I read in the NYT’.
Kissmygrits on May 13, 2010 at 7:43 PM
Furthermore crr6, what do you know about the constitution? If you’re going to call the Az. bill unconstitutional, then reference your sources. What’s really taking place, is the Federal Government (both party’s) refuse to perform their constitutional demands when dealing with our borders and illegal immigration. The result of the Federal governments failure to uphold their constitutional duties, is innocent Americans are dying by the hundreds every month.
Keemo on May 13, 2010 at 7:44 PM
FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
profitsbeard on May 13, 2010 at 7:44 PM
Somewhere a branch of the KKK is missing it’s Imperial Wizard.
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 7:44 PM
You’ll make a great lawyer.
Vince on May 13, 2010 at 7:45 PM
Oh no, this entire exercise has not been to score political points.
This administration would never, ever do something to marginalize one group as militant teabaggers yet at the same time embrace the illegal immigrants, who just by their presence, have broken the law of the land.
tru2tx on May 13, 2010 at 7:45 PM
These are not serious people.
Mason on May 13, 2010 at 7:46 PM
THANK YOU Rep. Poe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unbelievable Holder is the AG. He can read articles about the law but can’t read the law. Wow.
Once again, Thanks Rep Poe!!
VikingGoneWild on May 13, 2010 at 7:48 PM
I really pray and hope that we can win both houses and then the WH and have a pres and congress that will take the country so far right, all of the lefty’s will leave. Then we can live in a sane world.
Mirimichi on May 13, 2010 at 7:48 PM
What a joke yet we can be certain Crr will have their backs.
CWforFreedom on May 13, 2010 at 7:49 PM
Well….How about because as Attorney General, Mr. Holder is the top law enforcement official in the United States?
But wait a minute: if its OK for the New Black Panthers to intimidate voters in Philly, it must be OK for illegals to over run AZ.
Glad I got that cleared up.
tgharris on May 13, 2010 at 7:50 PM
I suppose expecting Holder to check out the facts of the matter would be like expecting Joseph Goebbels to check out the facts of the matter concerning those he already deemed to be enemies of the state.
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 7:50 PM
Keep beating the dead horse. Say it over and over. Tell me about the recent ruling the court had about Corporations and
campaign finance again. You were wrong there. Your word means very little.
CWforFreedom on May 13, 2010 at 7:51 PM
Holder has followed his Master well, teh One, who did not have all the facts of the case but knew that the police acted stupidly. Heh Holder, stupid is as stupid does. He would be submitting his resignation but does not know where they keep the stationary. Maybe Obama can have him over for a beer summit and have Biden read it to him since it is only 10 pages long. That is what we get from an affirmitive-action administration. 2012 cannot come too soon.
sh221b on May 13, 2010 at 7:52 PM
Democrats have limited attention spans. That’s about 8 pages more than they are used to.
Del Dolemonte on May 13, 2010 at 7:52 PM
He doesn’t know the Koran.
He doesn’t read the laws.
Did Obama pick this guy by any chance?
FIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Skip the UP.)
profitsbeard on May 13, 2010 at 7:52 PM
MB4 is vying for the title of “HA King of Hyperbolic-Nazi Comparisons”.
By the way, how’s the “lawyer work” going?
; )
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 7:53 PM
Oh they are serious alright.
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 7:53 PM
1- no it is not- only persons that meet the federal criteria
are effected.
2- no it doesn’t – it creates not burden the government does not already have.
Quit making crap up. Again you were wrong about campaign finance Einstein.
CWforFreedom on May 13, 2010 at 7:53 PM
What do you get when you cross an unprepared public servant with a cowardly subjective viewpoint? Eric Holder
Americannodash on May 13, 2010 at 7:54 PM
the Queen of pompous rears here ugly head again.
CWforFreedom on May 13, 2010 at 7:54 PM
the Queen of pompous rears her ugly head again.
CWforFreedom on May 13, 2010 at 7:55 PM
And where they have completely dropped the ball.
So where does this hack get off criticizing people who are actually doing something?
Seems to me, that Arizona grabbed Barry’s hallowed mop and cleaned up the “administration’s” mess.
NoDonkey on May 13, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Eric just thinks like his boss. Remember when that great “Constitutional law expert” Barry Obama told the nation that the 9/11 terrorists would get fair trials in NYC before being executed?
It would be funny if these idiots weren’t ruining our country.
AZCoyote on May 13, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Coming soon to a ‘Have you been in an accident’ late night infomercial near you……
BigWyo on May 13, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Erica didn’t have time to read the AZ law because he is so busy making stuff up and posting it as crrsex
macncheez on May 13, 2010 at 7:57 PM
Well every time immigration reform comes up guess who blocks it?
And that argument is ridiculous anyway. Foreign policy is also the responsibility of the federal government. How would you like it if states made their own independent foreign policy decisions simply because they felt that the federal government has “dropped the ball”?
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 7:57 PM
Unfreakinbelievable…….. no wait, I totally believe it coming from these goons.
Yakko77 on May 13, 2010 at 7:57 PM
You again? Don’t you have some filling to do for that mysterious judge of yours? Maybe he needs a fresh cup of coffee. Make yourself useful around the office.
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 7:57 PM
Let’s give the guy a break. True, it’s 10 pages. But do we know the font size? Is it single-spaced? Are there pictures at least? What if there are a lot of big words in it?
And he did say he got briefings on the law. I don’t know how long a briefing of a 10 page law could be, but I’m pretty sure he will get to those briefings any day now.
DarkKnight3565 on May 13, 2010 at 7:58 PM
MB4 himself said he does “lawyer work”. Then I asked him to look up something on LexisNexis and hilarity ensued.
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 8:01 PM
Back off. Its not like he is the head frickin’ lawyer of the United States of America.
Oh wait.
Never mind.
Shtetl G on May 13, 2010 at 8:02 PM
As you well know, I never said I was a lawyer. I said my legal argumentation skills were better than yours. And, yes, I do realize that is not necessarily saying a whole lot.
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 8:02 PM
Nice try. His stated concerns with the law were that it was “subject to abuse,” not that federal law trumps the states in this area. See http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/27/napolitano.immigration.act/index.html
Firefly_76 on May 13, 2010 at 8:02 PM
Why don’t we parachute those arrested here into Pakistan then Obama can order a drone attack. Seems that is ok with the left. Heck look at the troll on this thread. It barely whimpers about such executions yet worries about stuff it makes up about the AZ law.
———-
Arizona Republic
Not Broader and it is not inconsistent with the Supremacy Clause.
CWforFreedom on May 13, 2010 at 8:05 PM
No I didn’t. Maybe you need to see a doctor. It could be that your condition is untreatable but it wouldn’t hurt to check. Could be you just need a simple B-12 supplement. On the other hand … …
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 8:05 PM
If there is anything left to save..
wi farmgirl on May 13, 2010 at 8:05 PM
I give up. Who?
Vince on May 13, 2010 at 8:06 PM
Barry’s been in office for more than a year, with Democratic majorities in both houses. If the Dims actually wanted “immigration reform” (a euphemism for giving amnesty to millions of foreign lawbreakers), they could have passed it already.
And with polls showing that a large majority of Americans support AZ’s attempt to enforce the rule of law, do you really think it would only be Republicans who would be voting against another attempt at “immigration reform”?
AZCoyote on May 13, 2010 at 8:07 PM
*snort*
BigWyo on May 13, 2010 at 8:08 PM
Who can’t President Obama get off his mind?
This is becoming a recurring theme with the President…
dnlchisholm on May 13, 2010 at 8:09 PM
The AG probably wouldn’t understand the law if he had read it. These guys are probably dumber than Sarah Palin in terms of comprehension and analysis.
I would like the media to explain how listing newspapers is more relevant than counsel commenting on a law he hasn’t read.
Equally stupid are our pathetic trolls. Can we hire some DNC operatives to come and attack? WH help us out and I shall leave your groups alone. Well, I’ll leave them alone more often, anyway.
IlikedAUH2O on May 13, 2010 at 8:09 PM
Immigration reform = making illegals, legal!
Vince on May 13, 2010 at 8:10 PM
But the lib on Hannity’s radio program earlier this week said the lawyer friend of hers said they could just drive you from the traffic stop to the boarder with no questions asked. No lefty yet has read the law despite what their opinions suggest.
cobrakai99 on May 13, 2010 at 8:11 PM
He is a complete moron. He should be humiliated.
WisCon on May 13, 2010 at 8:12 PM
That’s even more ridiculous than Holder admitting he hasn’t read the law.
Reality is a blur for people of the lie.
ontherocks on May 13, 2010 at 8:13 PM
Your certainly entitled to your opinions but I’ll let the courts not a Law School student determine its constitutionality.
chemman on May 13, 2010 at 8:14 PM
Do you mean Holder or crr6? Either way, you’re absolutely right.
MB4 on May 13, 2010 at 8:14 PM
He’s a pawn.
CTSherman on May 13, 2010 at 8:15 PM
Sounds good.
crr6 on May 13, 2010 at 8:16 PM
Are sanctuary laws constitutional ?
macncheez on May 13, 2010 at 8:16 PM
“No I have not read the law. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.”
Lily on May 13, 2010 at 8:16 PM
Redundancy.
ontherocks on May 13, 2010 at 8:17 PM
Dammit dont you all understand-libs dont read laws they make laws//sarc. Really, can they read anything they dont make up themselves?
canditaylor68 on May 13, 2010 at 8:17 PM
If Eric Holder and crr6 had a world of thier own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn’t. And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn’t be, and what it wouldn’t be, it would. You see?
Cheshire Cat on May 13, 2010 at 8:20 PM
In a sane world, he would be fired. Then again, in a sane world, such a fool would never get to be the Attorney General.
Jim - PRS on May 13, 2010 at 8:22 PM
1. I don’t believe it is. If it is, can you point out exactly what it is about the AZ law that is broader than federal law?
2. How so? Whether it’s tax law, bank fraud or immigration, state and local officers enforce federal law all day every day. Putting state guidelines on enforcement is par for the course.
This has nothing to do with jurisdiction, crr6. It has everything to do with playing identity politics. And the Attorney General pronouncing a state law unconstitutional or voicing, publicly, official concerns about its constitutionality without even having read the thing is the giveaway.
Holder’s a hack, and not a very bright one, imho.
Tuning Spork on May 13, 2010 at 8:25 PM
No, it’s blind, partisan, HATRED of all things conservative. It’s stellar-class pandering. It’s the height of arrogance. It’s business as usual for the left.
Bob's Kid on May 13, 2010 at 8:26 PM
Pretty sure her BS level is tip top.
Aviator on May 13, 2010 at 8:29 PM
The Destroyers cabinet level destroyer is just a Progressive/Socialist….blah blah blah….pawn of the New World Order….blah blah blah…..ready to “transform American Justice”….blah blah blah.
You get the picture…..don’t ask questions just get on your knees and worship the change!!
PappyD61 on May 13, 2010 at 8:30 PM
Hmmmm.
“I know you get the government you deserve but this is approaching abject absurdity”
The political leadership appears to be a never ending Monty Python skit.
memomachine on May 13, 2010 at 8:32 PM
So what, Congress doesn’t read bills, and that doesn’t stop them either. Douchebag pardon boy is against it and RINO Johnny is for it. Wake up America, these folks will destroy us!
skanter on May 13, 2010 at 8:34 PM
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