Obama’s Nominee to Justice Dept. Was a Terrorist’s Lawyer


On March 9, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on one of Barack Obama’s latest nominees. This time it was to assess the suitability of Tony West, Obama’s nominee for the assistant attorney general in charge of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Division. Things went “smoothly” according to the San Jose Mercury News, also publishing a nice bio of West. The Washington Post merely mentioned the hearing was “notable.” Similarly the East Bay Express simply makes mention of the hearing having occurred. Apparently there was nothing of interest in West’s nomination.

Curiously enough, though, not one of these brief reports mention that Tony West was “American Taliban” terrorist John Walker Lindh’s defense lawyer. Another key bit of info left out of these announcements was that Tony West raised $65 million for Obama’s presidential campaign. Money well spent if it gets a cushy government job, I suppose.

In fact, for many of us, it took James Lileks to remind us all that West was Lindh’s lawyer (H/T HotAir.com). It took Lileks because none of the media bothered to make the connection.

As Lileks says, West was a pretty good lawyer. Did well for his client. Made the case as a good defense lawyer should that his client is innocent and, in this case, not a terrorist. Maybe West is a perfectly competent lawyer?

But here is the main point. This appointment of a terrorist’s defense lawyer to the Department of Justice announces that Barack Obama is in favor of a more lenient stance on terrorists. As Lileks says, it is evidence of a going back to 9/10 thinking. Also, since the Old Media have not made a single peep about this, it announces to the world that neither the crimes of 9/11 nor terrorism are any longer of interest to those that make the news. Says Lileks, “It just seems like one of those things that might have stuck out, once upon a time.”

So, in a era when most of us still acutely feel that Islamic terrorism is an important worry that should still feature prominently in our planning, Barack Obama is appointing a terrorist’s lawyer to one of the very agencies that is supposed to protect us all.

And the Old Media does not find this fact the least bit interesting.


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25 Comments Leave a comment

C'mon get with the program!

bk (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 8:10AM EST (link)

You used “terrorist” or “terrorism” eight times without ever once prefacing it with “so-called”. Didn’t you get the memo about that? The only time you can leave off that adjective is if you are describing Bush or someone from his administration, the US military, or Israel/IDF.

LOL

Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 8:43AM EST (link)

Geeze, I hate it when I fail at “journalism” and stuff!

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also, militant and gunman can be used for moral relativism - nt

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 10:23AM EST (link)

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

 
 
 

John Adams was defense counsel for the British shooters in the Boston Massacre

tankertodd (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 9:09AM EST (link)

I’d be frankly more worried about more pertinent issues with Obama. How about his administration being called basically “baby kitty cats” by Russia, Cuba, and Venezuela.

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The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race – Chief Justice Roberts

Key difference

Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 9:17AM EST (link)

The Lobster Backs were essentially innocent if only following flawed military discipline. On the other hand, Lindh CLEARLY joined the Taliban to kill innocent people.

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Hmm, well...

fulcrum Saturday, March 14th at 9:54AM EST (link)

Not entirely sure about your analogy there, but aren’t all United States citizens entitled to legal representation? I mean, somebody has to defend scumbags like Lindh; that’s why we have a constitution. And if lawyers got reamed like this for simply being public defenders, it’d be a huge blow to our legal system. I don’t see how it, in and of itself, this suggests Obama’s being more “lenient” on terrorism.

What role is he taking in the DoJ, though- and how the heck did he raise $65 million for Obama? I know bundlers and such, but I didn’t think that would be possible.

I am a criminal defense lawyer and I have turned down cases

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 10:20AM EST (link)

of guilty defendants that would not plead guilty. Now, I have never been a public defender who must represent any that apply and if the nominee was a public defender then I would have no problem with the representation, with one caveat…

what matters most about this nominee’s character is WHY he CHOSE to represent Lindh if he did. What matters most are his substantive views on what the law is and should be.

Certainly any defendant should have a lawyer to make sure the state proves the case. Their are ethical rules for lawyers that know of their client’s guilt.

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

I'd guess he did it for publicity nt

phxg (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 10:55AM EST (link)

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle

If he did, then yes

fulcrum Saturday, March 14th at 11:00AM EST (link)

Perhaps he should be excoriated for it, but there are plenty of valid reasons to go after the Obama administration- this seems like a stretch, and the more times people cry “wolf!” over trivial things like this, the less likely they are to be taken seriously over important things.

That’s one big thing in all of this. I think the left, by and large, has realized that trying to win every news cycle only gets you so far. The right needs to understand that, too, and plan for the long-term. I’m not saying to ignore things- hardly. But pick and choose your battles wisely.

I'm not upset over this appointment

phxg (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 12:15PM EST (link)

if for nothing more I believe a lawyer can maintain adequate ethical standards in their professional activity that does not compromise their ability to be acceptable for public service.

This is especially true if the attorney takes a case to defend a reprehensible individual for career advancement potential as a single event activity. However, a lawyer who represents criminal entities (i.e. the mob or ACLU) for a long time has, in my opinion ethical problems as they have chosen to prop-up illegal activity and provide cover to the offenders.

Besides, no matter how reprehensible Johnny Taliban is, he remains a citizen of the US and deserves competent representation. And unfortunately, the run of the mill public defender is ill equipped to deal with a case like this.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle

 
 

was he a public defender or not? anyone know? was he appointed

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 12:42PM EST (link)

or did he take the case for money? Did he seek out the client?

If we don’t know the answers to these questions then we are too ignorant to reach a conclusion?

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

He was in a firm at the time.

phxg (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 6:54PM EST (link)

More info here.

I don;t discount his drive to do so, but then again he is the embodiment of the typical liberal hack fitting in with the rest of the hacks currently in office.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. –Aristotle

Thanks for that my vowel challenged friend, phxg

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 7:13PM EST (link)

I really must say that I don’t have a problem with anything he said nor his representation of the guy given his stated reason, but yes, one could assume what you say as well.

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

 
 
 
 
 
 

Aren't the accused entitled to a vigorous defense?

tankertodd (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 11:09AM EST (link)

I wouldn’t fault him for taking the case. I would fault him for taking steps to further their cause (if that’s the case). Everyone needs to receive the protections afforded to them under the law. Even if the law is stupid and dumb. I think that’s where the Adams case comes in – even in the face of mass opposition the accused have rights.

Don’t blame me – they made me watch “12 Angry Men” in college TWICE. :-)

———————————
The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race – Chief Justice Roberts

agreed - nt

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 7:14PM EST (link)

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

 
 
 
 

Curious...

rbdwiggins (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 9:55AM EST (link)

How much of that $65 Million in campaign contributions came from illegal foreign sources?

“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan

 

Nominee a terrorist's lawyer?

olsmithie (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 10:44AM EST (link)

That is to keep Hillary from feeling like she is the only one in that category, of course her terrorists were not part of the current batch, but terrorists just the same.

Regarads

Hillary was worse - she got terrorists pardoned and released - nt

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 1:02PM EST (link)

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

At least she didn't launch her political career from a terrorist's house

David123 (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 1:05PM EST (link)

nt

David123

only intellectual giants can so expertly discern the nuance of vile democrats! - 55555 - nt

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 1:33PM EST (link)

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

 
 
 
 

This is a straw man argument, and a bad one at that.

mbecker908 (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 10:48AM EST (link)

Frankly, the only two worse examples of this argument are Obama’s place of birth (although that didn’t go anywhere) and Clinton and Monica.

We get all wound up in this meaningless crap and ignore the real issues. For instance, Newt had the Clinton Administration on the ropes on the issues. People were beginning to see what an empty suit – albeit a “nice” one – Clinton was and we turned from the issues (where we had the Dems splitting) to getting silly personal and uniting the Dems and the country behind Bubba.

Now we’re doing the same thing all over again. I don’t like West, but if this is the best we can do, order up a new batch of white flags. We let Obama have a tax evader as Secty of the Treasury (and head of the IRS) without a peep. Nobody’s done a damn thing about the ideology/policy preferences of the jerks at the top of the EPA or DoJ. There are two nominees who are under investigation by either the FBI or NY authorities and what have we heard about Democratic corruption?

As far as “going back to 9/10″, elections have consequences and is there ANYBODY who didn’t KNOW that would be one real consequence of BO’s election? Now then, as my friend rbdwiggins so eloquently and rightly states just above my little rant, How much of that $65 Million in campaign contributions came from illegal foreign sources? Not to mention the source rest of BO’s campaign treasury. We should have buried Clinton over the Chinese Money Connection but we seem to think blow jobs are a bigger deal than classified military systems being given to the Chinese and huge cash infusions in Democratic coffers from China. From the stuff I’ve seen it would seem that BO got significant money from at least the Euros. What are we waiting for, another bimbo eruption?

WTH, you do generally good stuff. This won’t be remembered as your best.

I think you are mostly right here 'Beck because, even if

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 1:01PM EST (link)

West was a private lawyer that sought out this client, even for ideological reasons related to prisoner rights (it would be a different matter of course if he agreed with the actions of the traitor), the fact is that Obama was elected echoing that civil liberty rhetoric and he will appoint libs, plus, what will really matter is what Obama actually does and it seems he has discovered that he had best follow Bush’s policies in this area for the most part.

We must use precious time on substantive issues that affect peoples lives and not minutia.

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

 
 

Add it up-

reaganiterepublicanresistance Saturday, March 14th at 11:39AM EST (link)

Holder with his racial hangups, now his assistant is the guy who got the Lindh off the hook… and then raised a ton of money for Obama? Any possibliity we have a little look into where that came from before we confirm this guy?

I thought Obama was “post racial”- what’s up with his preacher he claims he was unaware was a racist (although employed by Obama’s campaign at the time), what’s with his “typical white person” comment, the tapes coming out of his racist diatribes, his wife’s paper on how awful it was being black at an Ivy League school?

If there was any doubt, the recent anti-British shenanigans should tell you whether Obama, in his heart, considers himself more Kenyan-African, or more American. A REAL American wouldn’t have sent-back the bust of Churchill that was in the White House for 50 yrs and insult a British PM like this.

This racial stuff comes up an awful lot with Obama… sure don’t know what his problem is. You don’t see the entire media and half the public rushing to support any inexperience, liberal, white candidates for President, do you?

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com

amen to all that - Obama's problem? He's a liberal - nt

Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 12:56PM EST (link)

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson

 
 

The important thing is that West is Black...

themattador (Diary) Saturday, March 14th at 12:25PM EST (link)

… that’s all the justification Obama & Co. need.