November 7, 2007, - 3:14 pm
A Sane Democrat: Sen. Claire McCaskill to the Rescue on ICE Princess Nom.
By Debbie Schlussel
This woman gets it . . . again. In spades. Yes, yet again, Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill is the only Senator in the U.S. Senate who doesn’t think the naked ICE Princess wears clothing.
As I wrote back in September, McCaskill was the only Senator on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee to vote NO on the Julie Myers Immigraton and Customs Enforcement nomination. At the time, she said she voted against Myers because Myers refused to answer her questions about how many employers were prosecuted following raids of employers of illegal aliens. And while she voted against Myers, the nomination moved forward.
But, now, McCaskill has put a hold on the Julie Myers nomination due to the Blackface Halloween Party award that Myers gave, last week. Well, it’s about time. More from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (thanks to reader G for the tip):
Sen. Claire McCaskill moved Tuesday to block a confirmation vote on Julie Myers, the nominee of the administration of President George W. Bush for the top immigration enforcer.
McCaskill, D-Mo., said she was acting because of questions raised about Myers’ role in a Halloween contest in which an agency employee wore a racially offensive costume.
Myers heads the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency as a recess appointee of Bush and is awaiting Senate confirmation.
She was a judge at last week’s contest in which the employee was recognized for having the “most original” costume: a prisoner with a black-and-white striped outfit, dreadlocks, and bronze makeup on his face, according to Kelly Nantel, an agency spokeswoman.
McCaskill said she was putting a “hold” on the nomination until she gets answers to several questions, including why a photograph of Myers with the costumed employee was destroyed.
“The minute she saw the costume, she should have asked him to leave, not posed for a picture with him,” said McCaskill, who sent a letter to Myers Tuesday asking for a full explanation of the incident. . . .
McCaskill was a sharp critic of Myers well before the Halloween incident. She says the administration is not aggressive enough in prosecuting employers who hire illegal workers, a charge Myers disputes.
McCaskill said the Halloween incident confirmed her belief that Myers should not run the immigration agency.
“This is about judgment and how you handle your responsibility as the leader of a very large organization,” she said.
In the letter, McCaskill said the agency must show “zero tolerance for racial insensitivity” and said “this sorry episode does exactly the opposite.”
Myers won committee approval in September with McCaskill the lone no vote.
Right on!!!!!!! Brava, Brava, Brava. This Senator gets it.
Exit Question: Why don’t the other 99 get it?
Tags: agency spokeswoman, Blackface Halloween Party, Claire McCaskill, Customs Enforcement, David Lunde, Debbie Schlussel, George W. Bush, Halloween, Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, judge, Julie Myers Diet, Kelly Nantel, leader, Missouri, Missouri U.S., Nom, Nomination Stopped Dead, President, Princess, Senate, Senator, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, United States Senate
I didnt think I would comment further on this ridiculous matter, but the continuing information flowing about the now infamous Halloween party and the incredible comments from some people on ICE’s “growing pains” has just infuriated me to post again.
Apparently the aforementioned ICE Halloween party did not involve ICE OI, but another component of ICE. Notwithstanding, the Halloween debacle and ‘oh well’, ‘ho hum’, ‘things are great down in my office’ attitude is, in my humble opinion, indicative of the symptomatic problems which infect this agency.
Several posters have hit the nail right on the head while others appear to have their heads buried deep in the sand. Failing to recognize what’s wrong with this agency is just as bad as ignoring it’s problems.
One poster correctly pointed out that you would not find heads of other agencies at such a function in a judging position. I agree with that post. I think that the heads of other agencies might try to maintain a sense of dignity and discipline, maintaining a safe distance from such a function (as harmless as its intention might have been).
There is absolutely NO REASON for these sophomoric events in an office of the United States Government. We are the United State Department of Homeland Security. Let’s try and act like it!!!
As for the one particular poster who states that all is well in his office and that we are just experiencing growing pains, I must ask; it’s been almost five years since ICE’s inception. HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO ENDURE THESE GROWING PAINS??
I will admit that the enviornment and attitude in my office might not be indicative of every office in ICE. However, I do NOT believe that the ‘positive’ attitude in your office is indicative of the overall ICE public perception.
In my office, agents from BOTH legacy agencies work together to make good cases and agents from BOTH legacy agencies are disturbed, upset and mortified by the most recent occurence.
In order to give those “happy campers” an idea of what is going on around our little part of the world, here’s a snapshot: agents with about five years on are being promoted to supervisors while agents while agents with 10 or 15+ years are being passed over (does experience mean anything anymore??); agents with 15+ years are passed over for instructor positions at FLETC; anyone remember ICE NOT being put under “Law Enforcement” on the DHS job poster; numerous employee surveys have led to NOTHING except more surveys; the ICE slamming press conference held by a local NY county police chief relative to the 2007 surge; seeing ICE agents leave in significant numbers for various reasons; the absolute failure to address the morale problem.
(I had listed a number of other items, but removed them for a several reasons)
Although I am relieved that the now infamous Halloween party did NOT involve ICE, the circumstances surrounding it are very troubling.
First, the Assistant Secretary “lauds” the costume as “most original”, then is forced to change her stance when someone complains. To compound the problem, the photos are discarded. The problem as I see it are inconsistent statements and does the destruction of the photos after they are viewed probably having a negative impact constitute destruction of evidence?
And in what appears to be typical ICE fashion, the lowest guy is “tossed under the bus”.
Picture this; ‘Congratulations Mr. Employee, your costume is the most original’. Several days later;’Mr. Employee, remember all those lauds we gave you a day or two ago…. forget them, pack up your stuff and go home’.
ICE continues to be run by 30 something up and coming rising superstars. No one is paying heed to the advice of experienced veterans. That is clearly evident by the number of veterans who have bailed. There is no greater loss than experience and wisdom.
The tragic result is embarassing headlines about absolutely ridiculous incidents!!!
Please Senator McCaskill, you asked direct questions which deserve direct answers. Please continue to ask more questions…… and please wait for the answers!!!
ICEDover on November 7, 2007 at 7:48 pm