HOLD THAT HOLDER

Posted at 7:36 a.m. ET

Reader Hunter Schultz alerts us to this:

Rarely has a Cabinet officer made such an embarrassing debut.

Eric Holder, President Obama's poor choice for attorney general, demonstrated his inadequacy yesterday with a foolish, over-the-top speech to Justice Department employees, celebrating Black History Month:

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," Mr. Holder said.

"Though race-related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race."

The venue itself was inappropriate.  The use of a Black History Month celebration, which would understandably attract mostly African-American employees, sends a message of divisiveness, not inclusion.  This was the message of a radical, angry man.

Conservatives reacted strongly, and correctly:

Tom Fitton, president of the conservative Judicial Watch, said Mr. Holder's remarks suggest he will pursue a "radical" agenda as attorney general...

...He rebutted Mr. Holder's remarks calling America cowardly, saying that if the presidential election of Barack Obama "doesn't prove the nation's bravery, I don't know what will."

Agreed.  No doubt we have racial problems, but Eric Holder has made millions as a lawyer.  He can't claim to be a victim.

Conservative elections-lawyer Cleta Mitchell chided Mr. Holder for not realizing he is "chief law enforcement officer of the United States not a camp counselor."

Holder engages in some odd logic:

"The fact that we have an African-American attorney general, an African-American president I think is extremely significant but it is not an indication that all of the problems that we have confronted as a nation over the years are now resolved," Mr. Holder told reporters.

It is certainly true that we're not as integrated, black and white, as we could be.  But we're not as integrated, ethnically, religiously, and politically, as we could be either.  I would have much preferred it had holder restricted his speech to legal challenges, and outlined his legal ideas. 

The liberals whined about the "politicization" of the Bush Justice Department.  That looked like amateur stuff compared to what Holder apparently has in mind. 

Oh, I wonder how he intends to pursue the legal fight against terrorism.  Will there be a speech on it?

February 19, 2009.