John Ashcroft has recently taken the name of Bobby Kennedy in vain, using Kennedy’s fight against organized crime in organized labor as vindication of his own actions in the War on Terrorism. TomPaine.com notes that the differences are, not surprisingly, far greater than the similarities.
Just looking at recent developments in the news, such as Ashcroft’s decision to prosecute Oregon doctors who help people die, as sanctioned by that state’s twice-adopted assisted suicide law; or reaching what many legal experts say is a friendly anti-trust deal with Microsoft; or the Administration’s ongoing effort to implement different rules for detaining, prosecuting and trying terror suspects that sweep aside constitutional protections — all of these clash with two keystones of RFK’s legacy as the nation’s top cop: his respect for civil liberties and advocacy for society’s weak, especially against the rich and powerful.
(Via Follow Me Here)