While it remains to be seen how the federal court system will react to Alabama's redrawn congressional maps signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday, the left-of-center national media and talking heads have taken notice of the Alabama Legislature's actions.
Immediately following the passage of the so-called Livingston plan, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder appeared on MSNBC to criticize Alabama.
"Well, it's sad to see what's happening in Alabama," he declared. "You know, the Supreme Court -- this is a very conservative Supreme Court, said you needed to create two black majority-Democratic districts in Alabama — two opportunity zones for Alabama given the fact they have about 27% of the state's population, only seven seats. And what the legislature has done, is in the process of doing, is to ignore the United States Supreme Court."
"Unfortunately, this is what we have seen in Alabama historically," Holder continued. "I mean, 1954 is the Brown v. Board of Education decision. 1963, Governor Wallace decides that he's going to stop African-American students from integrating the University of Alabama, one of whom was my late sister-in-law. So you would hope this would not be history that would repeat itself in the 21st century. But that is what we are seeing. I have also been told that Kevin McCarthy, in response to what the Alabama Legislature has done, has said he's interesting in keeping his speakership. The margins are very tight in the House of Representatives. The Republican majority is very small. And he apparently could value keeping his speakership more than having American citizens treated fairly."
"African-American citizens in Alabama have had the power of their vote diluted by the racial gerrymandering, by the racial way in which the lines have been drawn in Alabama. The Supreme Court recognized this, and the Alabama Legislature simply needs to do that, which the Supreme Court has said. It probably will not, so it will go back to the court, and the courts have done, I think, the appropriate thing — a three-judge panel, including two Trump judges, who are the ones that first recognized the problem and ordered that the lines be redrawn. My hope will be this will get back into the court system as soon as possible, that lines can be drawn in a way that is consistent with that Supreme Court opinion, and black Alabamians will finally, finally will have the opportunity to elect a congressman of their choice."
Later, Holder said the day's events in Alabama and others around the country were indicative of Republican tactics to exercise "electoral aprtheid."
"[I] think too many in the Republican Party have made peace with the notion that they are going to be a minority party that exercises majority power," he added. "They are OK, in essence, with an American electoral apartheid. That's where one of our two great parties now finds itself."
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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