What Have You Done to Halt Eric Holder's Nomination?

[SmershAgent]

Eric Holder will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 15, 2009. If his nomination is approved, he will likely be one of the most anti-Second Amendment individuals to hold that position in history.

 

Unfortunately, the Committee is stacked with anti-gun Democrats.

 

Fortunately, there are many reasons to oppose Holder that do not involve firearms.

 

Kurt has done an excellent job of summarizing them here.

 

David Codrea has further expanded on Holder's non-2A shortcomings here.

 

He has also highlighted some of Holder's anti-gun credentials here.

 

The owner of "A Keyboard and a .45" (whom I do not yet have the pleasure of knowing) has made our efforts even easier by compiling a contact list of all the Senators on the committee right here.

 

We're stuck with an Obama Presidency, but we don't have to be stuck with his wretched first choice for Attorney General. All that is required to help stop him are 17 first class stamps, one letter (copied and appropriately addressed 8 times) that explains the non-gun reasons to oppose Holder to send to the Democrats on the committee, and another letter (copied and appropriately addressed 9 times) that also includes some gun reasons to oppose Holder to send to the Republicans. As an aside, I know that most of the GOP Senators are friendly, but I haven' investigated all of them yet. It may be necessary to write a separate "pro gun lite" letter for a few of them.

 

In addition to writing, I would also advise calling the day before the scheduled hearing.

 

It's important that these Senators hear from every one of us. My letters are going in the mail tomorrow. I am late getting into this effort, and the real credit belongs to the individuals whose sites I linked above.

 

UPDATE: In my opinion, Republican Senators Sessions, Brownback, Coburn, and Cornyn should receive letters with a firm pro-Second Amendment tone. Senators Hatch, Grassley, Kyl, and Graham should receive more subtle pro-Second Amendment messages. Senator Specter should get a copy of the letter you use for the Democrats.

[Air Commando]

Does someone have a letter written so that I can send it off to my Senators?

[GarandFan]

I haven't written a letter ... but Bob Barr has.

 

http://judiciary.senate.gov/resources/docu...809-BobBarr.pdf

[SmershAgent]

I haven't written a letter ... but Bob Barr has.

 

http://judiciary.senate.gov/resources/docu...809-BobBarr.pdf

 

Egads, and I voted for B. Barr for President. It really seems like everyone is going mad.

 

I can try to post my messages to the committee tonight, although I'd strongly encourage everyone to at least tweak them or simply use them as starting points for your own correspondence. This way, the Senators won't think they're just getting a couple of form letters that have been circulated.

[SmershAgent]

Please feel free to use the following as a guide for writing your own letters. I have no personal objections if anyone wants to copy these outright, but I believe unique correspondence will have a greater impact on the committee.

 

For the anti-gun members of the committee (which includes all the Democrats as well as Mr. Specter):

 

Dear Senator _______,

 

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Eric Holder’s nomination as Attorney General and to urge you to place a hold on his confirmation.

 

The nation’s chief law enforcement officer must demonstrate an understanding and respect for the sanctity of our Constitutional protections as well as an ability to serve the citizens of this country in a judicious and responsible manner. An analysis of Mr. Holder’s prior professional conduct indicates an alarming absence of these characteristics.

 

In an NPR interview on May 28, 1999, Mr. Holder articulated his support for government restrictions on the free speech of Americans that occurs on the internet and expressed frustration that such restrictions were likely unconstitutional: “It is going to be a difficult thing but it seems to me that if we come up with reasonable restrictions; reasonable regulations on how people interact on the internet, that is something the Supreme Court and the courts ought to favorably look at.”

 

As Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton administration, Mr. Holder was responsible for recusing U.S. Attorney James Blagg and assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Johnston, both of whom had raised questions about possible Justice Department misconduct in regard to the federal siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, TX. Ninety people lost their lives as a result of the siege, including twenty-one children and four law enforcement officers.

 

Additionally, Mr. Holder was instrumental as Deputy Attorney General in securing a Presidential pardon for Marc Rich, the investor who fled the United States to avoid prosecution for tax evasion and purchasing Iranian oil during the hostage crisis. In a 2002 report, the House Government Reform Committee described Holder’s involvement as “unconscionable.”

 

Eric Holder’s disdain for civil liberties and his unethical (and perhaps illegal) conduct in the execution of his former duties make him unfit to serve as Attorney General of the United States.

 

Please accept my gratitude in advance for placing a hold on his nomination until these issues can be scrutinized in a thorough and transparent manner.

 

Sincerely,

 

For the moderately pro-gun Senators Hatch, Kyl, Grassley, and Graham:

 

Dear Senator Kyl,

 

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Eric Holder’s nomination as Attorney General and to urge you to place a hold on his confirmation.

 

The nation’s chief law enforcement officer must demonstrate an understanding and respect for the sanctity of our Constitutional protections as well as an ability to serve the citizens of this country in a judicious and responsible manner. An analysis of Mr. Holder’s prior professional conduct indicates an alarming absence of these characteristics.

 

In an NPR interview on May 28, 1999, Mr. Holder articulated his support for government restrictions on the free speech of Americans that occurs on the internet and expressed frustration that such restrictions were likely unconstitutional: “It is going to be a difficult thing but it seems to me that if we come up with reasonable restrictions; reasonable regulations on how people interact on the internet, that is something the Supreme Court and the courts ought to favorably look at.”

 

Mr. Holder’s contempt for the Second Amendment is also readily apparent. He co-signed an amicus brief on behalf of the city council in the recent Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller. This document argued that the right to keep and bear arms does not apply to individuals and that it should be a criminal offense for residents of Washington, D.C. to possess firearms in a state of operational readiness within their homes. As a law-abiding gun owner, I find Mr. Holder’s position appalling.

 

Additionally, Mr. Holder was instrumental as Bill Clinton’s Deputy Attorney General in securing a Presidential pardon for Marc Rich, the investor who fled the United States to avoid prosecution for tax evasion and purchasing Iranian oil during the hostage crisis. In a 2002 report, the House Government Reform Committee described Holder’s involvement as “unconscionable.”

 

Eric Holder’s disdain for civil liberties and his unethical (and perhaps illegal) conduct in the execution of his former duties make him unfit to serve as Attorney General of the United States.

 

Please accept my gratitude in advance for placing a hold on his nomination until these issues can be scrutinized in a thorough and transparent manner.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

For the solid pro-gun Senators Brownback, Coburn, Sessions, and Cornyn:

 

Dear Senator Coburn,

 

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Eric Holder’s nomination as Attorney General and to urge you to place a hold on his confirmation.

 

The nation’s chief law enforcement officer must demonstrate an understanding and respect for the sanctity of our Constitutional protections as well as an ability to serve the citizens of this country in a judicious and responsible manner. An analysis of Mr. Holder’s prior professional conduct indicates an alarming absence of these characteristics.

 

Mr. Holder’s contempt for the Second Amendment is readily apparent. He co-signed an amicus brief on behalf of the city council in the recent Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller. This document argued that the right to keep and bear arms does not apply to individuals and that it should be a criminal offense for residents of Washington, D.C. to possess firearms in a state of operational readiness within their homes.

 

Mr. Holder also wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post in which he argued in favor of legislation that would grant the Attorney General power to deny citizens the right to lawfully purchase firearms if their names appeared on a secret terrorist “watch list” maintained by the government. Stripping American citizens of their fundamental rights without due process or adjudication is outrageous, and this is the very sort of action that a qualified Attorney General should strenuously oppose.

 

Additionally, Mr. Holder was instrumental as Bill Clinton’s Deputy Attorney General in securing a Presidential pardon for Marc Rich, the investor who fled the United States to avoid prosecution for tax evasion and purchasing Iranian oil during the hostage crisis. In a 2002 report, the House Government Reform Committee described Holder’s involvement as “unconscionable.”

 

Eric Holder’s disdain for civil liberties and his unethical (and perhaps illegal) conduct in the execution of his former duties make him unfit to serve as Attorney General of the United States.

 

Please accept my gratitude in advance for placing a hold on his nomination until these issues can be scrutinized in a thorough and transparent manner.

 

Sincerely,

[Slappy]

Bob Barr has really surprised me... I also voted for him for president but its amazing how much transition he has made.

 

His changes in stance on this and gay marriage was quite surprising to me!

[GWBH]

Contacted Durbin's office (if that means anything to him!!) and Senators Grassley, Graham, Kyl, Hatch

 

 

Take it easy... I was nice!!! Didn't get hacked off and call him 'Dickie' or anything like that...

[SmershAgent]

Bump.

 

There's still time to act. Let's not make this easy for him.

 

http://www.examiner.com/x-1417-Gun-Rights-...s-at-gun-rights

[SmershAgent]

Another update, courtesy of Kurt.

 

http://armedandsafe.blogspot.com/2009/01/c...old-holder.html

 

I just sent a message to Senator Barrasso, and I will be urging my own Senators to collaborate with him to generate active opposition to the nomination.

[gravyboy77]

The senate commitee just approved him this morning . Now it goes to the full senate for a vote....hopefully they can stop him there.

[SmershAgent]

Only two GOP Senators voted no?

 

Two?

 

I'm disgusted, particularly with Brownback, my own Senator, whose assistant suggested to me on the phone that he would also be voting in opposition.

 

If this is any indication of how the full chamber will perform, things will be grim.

 

Dear Senator Brownback,

 

Can you please explain to me why you voted in favor of Eric Holder's nomination this morning in the Senate Judiciary Committee?

 

Your support of Mr. Holder is particularly baffling to me in light of his long and proud history of hostility towards the Second Amendment and lawful firearms owners.

 

Since moving to Kansas, I have been proud to have you as my Senator, but your implicit support of Mr. Holder's gun control agenda has left me extremely disappointed.

 

I respectfully suggest that you reconsider your position and vote against his nomination in the full Senate.

 

Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss my concerns in greater detail.

 

Sincerely,

 

Matthew Thompson

[SmershAgent]

I just spoke to someone from Brownback's office, and apparently he was kicked off the Judiciary Committee during the transition.

 

This news fills me with a mixture of embarrassment and relief.

[pphuff]

I just posted an 8 minute gun control interview from tonights Lou Dobbs show

 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=90...61996&hl=en

[Johnnybgood]

I just called Senator Durbins office and encouraged him to vote no. Fat lot of good that will do. They are probably old cronies.

[SmershAgent]

From the GOA:

 

http://gunowners.org/a012909.htm

 

 

As Holder Nomination Goes To The Senate Floor

 

Time to Hit Your Senators One Last Time

 

-- And “chew” on those squishy Senators who seem too willing to compromise with Obama

 

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert

8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151

Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408

http://www.gunowners.org

 

"I have many serious questions about Mr. Holder’s nomination [and] at the top of the list are his anti-2nd amendment right positions.” -- U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

 

Thursday, January 29, 2009

 

It was a disappointing result, to be sure. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the nomination of Eric Holder yesterday by a 17-2 vote.

 

Only Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and John Cornyn (R-TX) voted against the anti-gun nominee for Attorney General.

 

One of the things that gravely hurt us in committee was Senator Orrin Hatch’s support for Holder. Even though Hatch holds a lukewarm “C” rating with GOA, he is generally viewed as “pro-gun” on the Hill. His support for Holder certainly pulled a lot of Senators with him from his side of the aisle.

 

Thankfully, there are some Senators who are lining up against Holder:

 

* Wyoming Senator John Barrasso (R-WY): “Given Holder's career of attacks on the Second Amendment, his nomination continues to be of great concern to me.… Our nation's highest law enforcement officer must be committed to protecting and defending our individual rights to keep and bear arms. I intend to vote no on the nomination of Eric Holder.”

 

* Senator David Vitter (R-LA): “[Holder has] clearly advocated near universal licensing and registration, and he joined and filed an amicus brief in the District of Columbia v. Heller U.S. Supreme Court case arguing that the 2nd amendment was NOT an individual right. That's deeply disturbing.”

 

Unfortunately, there are very few Senators right now who are willing to stand up to Obama’s anti-gun nomination. Another conservative firebrand who opposes the Holder nomination is Senator James DeMint (R-SC). In addition to Vitter and Barrasso, DeMint is one of the few voices crying out in the wilderness of a “country club” Senate.

 

“Club friendships [have become] more important,” DeMint says, than “where we’re going as a country.”

 

Sen. DeMint is simply standing firm on conservative, constitutional principles. Politico.com noted on Tuesday that DeMint is “less willing to compromise with Democrats than many in his party.”

 

Translation: A lot of other Republicans would rather compromise than stand up to Obama, and that spells bad news for our gun rights.

 

So what can we do?

 

The Politico article notes an important lesson that DeMint has learned over the years. He has tried pushing good policy, being persuasive and being nice. He’s tried it all, he says. But finally, he realized that lawmakers in both parties “only respond to pain.”

 

That’s the key … dishing out political pain! And that’s why your grassroots involvement is so critical. It is imperative that we keep banging on the Senate. Pressure from gun owners has already helped to slow down the momentum to confirm Eric Holder. But if confirmed, he will be in a position where he will be able to use the force of government to discourage or outlaw gun ownership in America.

 

ACTION: Please contact your two Senators, even if you have done so already, and strongly urge them to vote AGAINST Eric Holder for Attorney General. You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center to send your Senators a pre-written e-mail message.

 

NOTE: The pre-written letter will differ according to whether your Senator is a Republican or Democrat.