Talk about shooting first and aiming later.
AG Eric Holder has made cameos on new shows warning that the Arizona law enforcing U.S. immigration laws could lead to racial profiling, might prompt Latinos to stop cooperating with police, and might be unconstitutional — all “on the basis of things that (he has) been able to glean by reading newspaper accounts, obviously, television”.
When asked by Rep. Poe of Texas if he had read the 10 page bill, Holder admitted “I have not had a chance to — I’ve glanced at it – I have not read it”.
Note: the entire bill is only 10 pages long.
Below is the video and a transcript.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rH1FEcbi4A
* * * * *
REP. TED POE: So Arizona, since the federal government fails to secure the border, desperately passed laws to protect its own people. The law is supported by 70 percent of the people in Arizona, 60 percent of all Americans and 50 percent of all Hispanics, according to The Wall Street Journal/NBC poll done just this week. And I understand that you may file a lawsuit against the law. It seems to me the administration ought to be enforcing border security and immigration laws and not challenge them and that the administration is on the wrong side of the American people. Have you read the Arizona law?
ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER: I have not had a chance to — I’ve glanced at it. I have not read it.
POE: It’s 10 pages. It’s a lot shorter than the health care bill, which was 2,000 pages long. I’ll give you my copy of it, if you would like to — to have a copy.
Are you going to read the law?
HOLDER: I’m sure I will read the law … I’ll spend a good evening reading that law.
POE: Well, I’ve gone through it. And it’s pretty simple. It takes the federal law and makes it — enacts it in a state statute, although makes it much more refined in that it actually says in one of the sections that no state or subdivision may consider race, color, national origin in implementing the requirements of any subsection of this law.
It seems to outlaw racial profiling in the law. I know there’s been a lot of media hype about the — the legislation.
You have some concerns about the statute. And it’s — it’s hard for me to understand how you would have concerns about something being unconstitutional if you hadn’t even read the law.
HOLDER: Well, what I’ve said is that I’ve not made up my mind. I’ve only made — made the comments that I’ve made on the basis of things that I’ve been able to glean by reading newspaper accounts, obviously, television, talking to people …
* * * * *
Full transcript:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/14/transcript-holder-hot-seat-arizona-immigration-law/
The Homa Files 