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Attorney General Eric Holder Admits To Not Reading Arizona’s Immigration Law

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» 65 comments

Attorney General Eric Holder is catching fire for admitting that, despite speaking out against it, he has yet to read the Arizona illegal immigration law. During a House Judiciary hearing, Republican Congressman Tom Poe asked Holder about his comments that the federal government might sue Arizona over the law and, more specifically, whether he had read the bill himself. Holder, embarrassingly, muttered that he had skimmed the bill but hadn’t gotten around to reading it.

The “read the bill” debate was pivotal to passing of health care reform, though in that case, the bill was thousands of pages and it was nearly universally recognized that no one had actually read every single page of the bill.

That said, none of the clips Sean Hannity uses to attack Holder in the segment below, showing Holder arguing against the immigration law, show him making any definite statements. “It has the possibility of leading to racial profiling;” “I don’t think it’s necessarily a good idea”— both of these are fair statements to make on a bill using only the knowledge of a light perusal and the opinions of those you respect. Where Holder gets into trouble is with his proposal that there might be a federal lawsuit against the law—a very strong threat to make without having actually read the text at hand.

A clip of this back and forth was featured on last night’s Hannity:

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  • http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

    Holder is the great example of all liberal thought. Like the loons that will comment here he has never read the law. He is a joke. The only people that are as funny as him are RRK, Ted, Snip and all the lib kooks that infect this website.
    They lie and distort over and over and pat each other on the back for being so devious.

  • Caryson

    Unlike Nancy “you have to pass it to know what’s in it” Pelosi, this 10 page law was passed. Unfortunately Holder and the Mainstream Media Government Scribes never read it.

    When will the press start to do their jobs of objectively reporting the news other simply reading talking points provided by the Obama administration. the MSM press complains about pre-packaged news coming out of the White House. Most recently the pre-packaged interview with Elena Kagan. I say why?

    The MSM are going to run the WH pre-packaged news reports (propaganda piece) anyway and it would just save them the cost of fielding a WH scribe, I mean reporter.

    Read the Bill……..then report. Wise up to what is happening in our country!

  • germ

    I love the comment from Ted Poe :

    “It’s 10 pages, you can have mine if you want”

  • MichelleF

    That said, none of the clips Sean Hannity uses to attack Holder in the segment below, showing Holder arguing against the immigration law, show him making any definite statements. “It has the possibility of leading to racial profiling;” “I don’t think it’s necessarily a good idea”— both of these are fair statements to make on a bill using only the knowledge of a light perusal and the opinions of those you respect. Where Holder gets into trouble is with his proposal that there might be a federal lawsuit against the law—a very strong threat to make without having actually read the text at hand.

    Way to back him up, Frances. Of course, his boss is even more pathetic, castogate AZ and the police at every turn and give terrorists the benefit of the doubt til all the facts are in.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    Shocker!! It’s the usual , Barry Obama comments as well before the law is even signed, ( Watch out Hispanics you might get scooped up while at eating ice cream, pardon the pun) and of course his comments on the Cambridge police dept. No news here folks.

  • AmericanCowboy

    Holder is a complete moron who has not made one good common sense decission.

    Anyone who calls the bill racist has either not read the bill or is just plain stupid.

    We want secure borders to prevent illegal entery.

    Legal immagration is welcomed with open arms.

  • Teabagger

    I think Hannity is a opportunist, a phony, and a complete tool.

    I don’t think Holder will have this job for long. He is spending way too much time in the media. I don’t think that is the proper use of “transparency.” He needs to shut up and do his job. The more he talks the more he comes across as a boob and that’s not the type of person we need in that spot.

    So long Holder, it’s been fun.

  • roxsteady

    As Attorney General, Holder will not be prosecuting the case if there is a suit. See, that’s what Lawyers in the Justice Department would be responsible for. He’d hand the case over to one of the Lawyers since he’s the Attorney General. Got that? Now, until another 3,000 people are killed, this time under this administration, Republicans should STFU! By the way, since NY is now littered with COWARDS, where are they going to hold the trial for the Time Square Bomber? Holder had it right to hold the 911 trials in NY but, New Yorkers allowed themselves to be scared by the GOP and their bullshit. So the terrorists are sitting back laughing at New Yorkers because they’re afraid. Just like the GOP wanted. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

  • AmericanCowboy

    Teabagger says:
    May 14, 2010 at 1:00 pm
    I think Hannity is a opportunist, a phony, and a complete tool.
    ——–x——-x——-x——–x———x———x———x——–x——-x——x——–x——–x——-

    LOL That is the pot calling the kettle black

  • MichelleF

    New Yorkers allowed themselves to be scared by the GOP and their bullshit. So the terrorists are sitting back laughing at New Yorkers because they’re afraid. Just like the GOP wanted. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

    Um, you do realize even the dems in NY don’t want it there right? Let’s do our homework Rox.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    ROX- You have a brave mouth, but please do us the honor of first paying the millions of dollars for beefed up security in NYC if the trial is held their. You truly are a dope.

  • badr

    Everybody’s a pundit these days.

  • roxsteady

    Michelle, the Dems in NY flip flopped once that idiot Peter King, a Republican started the chorus. As someone who was coming up the escalator on Semtember 11th, at 8:47 am, like I did every day, I want these bastards fried. I had also just left the 22nd floor of the Trade Center when the 93 bombing happend, so I want them tried where the crime was committed. Perhaps you should do some homework and come up with a place where you think they should be tried and forward that info to Eric Holder?

  • roxsteady

    Actually, Troll, you may not be aware of this but, the Obama administration was prepared to supply the money but, Bloomberg kept upping the cost and then, he flip flopped once Wall Street started to complain. You are truely an asshole!

  • Olby Sucks

    The “progressives” I put this video in front of yesterday were praising holder for his being honest about admitting he hadn’t read the bill while avoiding the fact he was on every channel bashing it for the previous 2 weeks. No shame to their game.

  • germ

    Rox doesn’t have to do his homework. He/She/It gets his/her/their information from Kos Kidz Koalition/Media Misinformation/Olberdouche/Soros and whatever they say is the TRUTH!!!1

  • MichelleF

    No need Rox, I already know, GITMO!

  • MichelleF

    I love your lefties who can’t debate without foul language. Classy!

  • http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

    Rox went to ForDumb, what do you expect from her? She even claims she knows how to use an escalator. LOL. She has not even read the paper. Lots of people have come up with a place for the trial. GITMO. Fortunately nobody cares what rox thinks or what she wants. What kind of a person would listen to an idiot?

  • http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

    AmericanCowboy – your presence is a BREATH of FRESH AIR around here, much like MarkStr8toHell (whatever happened to HIM?!1)!!1 You’re a STRAIGHT SHOOTER who truly speaks for the TEA PARTY MOVEMENT, unlike snooty elitists like ImNotBlue and his cohorts!!1 Keep on tellin it like it IS, because YOU are the greatest representation of Our Side I’ve seen here YET!!1

  • smack

    the only thing Holder is qualified to do is be a liberal troll on mediaite blogs. same stupid ilk! November is looking easier every day.

  • http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

    SAME GOES TO YOU, “Trolling4libs”!!1 You’re right – what happens IF the trial is held their?!?!?!?!?!/11111

  • MichelleF

    Unbelievable! I’m listening to a clip of Holder absolutely refusing to say the words radical islam. I mean he was ask like 10 times if radical islam is could have been possible for the recent events (ft. hood, nyc bombing), and he WOULD NOT say it. Wow!! This is who is in charge of keeping us safe folks!

    Here’s the link if you want to here it out of his mouth:

    http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/05/14/holder-cant-say-radical-islam/

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    Hey Rox ” the Obama adminstration was willing to pay for this” , and where do u think that money actually comes from??? bingo! Tax payers!! Spend spend spend from Obama’s Trillions of dollars magical penny bank.

  • Teabagger

    MichelleF says:
    May 14, 2010 at 1:26 pm

    I love your lefties who can’t debate without foul language. Classy!

    How do you feel about the righties, MichelleB?

  • roxsteady

    GITMO, where they got 3 convictions vs 300 in criminal courts? By the way all 3 of the convicted are now free. Try again dear. I know that facts hurts your heads but, there you have it.

    Now, back to the subject of this post, I know that many of you watch fox so, you probably didn’t see Rachel Maddow’s interview last night with the Sheriff of the border town where the fence is in Arizona. That’s right, the Sheriff in the ad with John McCain is from Pinal County, which is 115 miles north in central Arizona. The border is in Nogales County in Santa Cruz. McCain used a Sheriff from another town which is NOT on the border. Do you know why? It’s because the Sheriff doesn’t support this law. Did anyone at fox “news” report this?

  • roxsteady

    Um, Troll, where are trials held for free? If you’re scared that’s on you. Here kitty, kitty, kitty!

  • Teabagger

    MichelleF says:
    May 14, 2010 at 1:42 pm

    Unbelievable! I’m listening to a clip of Holder absolutely refusing to say the words radical islam. I mean he was ask like 10 times if radical islam is could have been possible for the recent events (ft. hood, nyc bombing), and he WOULD NOT say it. Wow!! This is who is in charge of keeping us safe folks!

    - It’s not his job to make blanket assumptions. I’m sure he has in the past but in this example he is actually saying the right thing for a person in his position. It’s too bad its not what you wanted to hear as a red blooded true American patriot.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    Gitmo!

  • MichelleF

    I know that facts hurts your heads but, there you have it

    You are hilarious! This coming from the girl who until today, wouldn’t stick around to defend her position even thought she’s usually wrong.

    Do you know why? It’s because the Sheriff doesn’t support this law.

    Well it’s not really his job to decide which laws to follow now is it. And yes, I”ve heard this guy talk on Fox also. The fact of the matter is the majority of people like and support the bill. Those are just the facts “dear”.

  • RazorsEdge

    Rox.

    Answer to your question on Arizona Sheriff Clarence Dupnik reported on Fox News: Yes Sheriff Dupnik has appeared multiple times in last couple weeks on Fox to state why he’s against AZ immigration law. Just google it to ease your mind.

    Why would McCain use a Sheriff in his ad that was not supporting McCain’s position? Pinal county has 14% of their inmates that are Illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants know how to travel you know. Many even know how to drive once they’ve crossed the border. They’re smart too.

  • MichelleF

    - It’s not his job to make blanket assumptions. I’m sure he has in the past but in this example he is actually saying the right thing for a person in his position. It’s too bad its not what you wanted to hear as a red blooded true American patriot.

    Wow, for once you are right. But it’s not making assumptions when you look at each situation and look for a common denominator and decide the common thread is radical islam. How is that assumption?

    And why is it ok to make assumptions that the police acted “stupidly” according to obama in MA before he knew the facts. Why is it ok to assume everthing is a white christian tea-bagger before the facts are in?

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    Rox-btw I’m in the military , been to Iraq twice , Afghanistan once, so ya I’m really scared.. Nice try though.

  • MichelleF

    Snap troll!! Thank you for your service to our fine country!

  • libra blue

    Of course Holder will not read the Arizona law, he might read something in it that would prove that what his cronies are saying about it is wrong. This way he can use it as an excuse.

    How could anyone voice an opinion on something he/she hasn’t read?

  • roxsteady

    But you’re afraid of a trial in New York? Here Kitty, kitty, kitty! Oh, and the Sheriff’s name is Antonio Estrada. I don’t know who this guy fox spoke to was but, it wasn’t Sheriff Estrada. I wonder why? No I don’t! I have to go now but, don’t worry, I’ll be back.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Jones/1384303476 Chris Jones

    The bill is only 10 pages. You would think he could find the time to actually read it. Of course, this was always about politics so it doesn’t really matter to him what the damn bill actually says.

  • roxsteady

    And before I go let me remind you all….3000 Dead under Republican’s watch! 3000 Dead!

  • BR

    So we have the AG giving his opinion on a law that he hasnt read and people who dont watch Fox News telling us their opinions of Fox News (That was putting it nicely by the way).

    So maybe now you leftists will understand why your though of as idiots.

  • germ

    Wow! We really need to find Mr. Republican to find out where his watch is! There are 3,000 people under it!

  • MichelleF

    HAHA, germ! I think she realized she lost the argument and “had to go”.

  • TROLLING4LIBS

    The only Dead Rox’s needs to worry about, is the braincells of hers she’s killing, everytimes she opens her hack mouth.

  • ImNotBlue

    Karl Spensen says:
    May 14, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    Hmm… still thinking about me, eh, Christian? Sad.

    roxsteady says:
    May 14, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    And before I go let me remind you all….3000 Dead under Republican’s watch! 3000 Dead!

    Ladies and Gentelmen… ROXSTEADY!

    Someone who isn’t afraid to use the death of thousands (wrongly) as a political weapon! Someone who allegedly would have lost friends, co-workers, and collegues… yet, sees no problem in using their death as just another political tool!

    Sure the argument could be made that, “Hey, you keep saying that it’s ‘Bush’s economy’ even though Obama has been in officer for two years and things haven’t dramatically improved, but when it comes to 9-11, and Bush’s less-than-a-year means he owned the issue 100%, and that’s why you don’t have to blame the Clinton administration for dropping the ball,” but what fun is consistency, when we have hypocrisy?!

    BTW… Hey Roxy? Have you address the topic of this thread at all, or was this a really REALLY obvious attempt to quickly change the subject because you have no defense for why the AG “hasn’t read the bill,” but continues to make comments in public about it?

  • TfT

    Way to go Frances — defend the Obama admin at all costs. Typical of today’s media. No need to criticize teh one and his staff, let’s criticize Hannity instead. Holder blasts the AZ law without ever reading it, and you defend him? HAHA

    Too funny, too predictable…..did you get those talking points from Rham or did teh One’s communications staff txt them to you directly?

    Unbelievable.

  • RazorsEdge

    Antonio Estrada is the Sheriff of Santa Cruz county and is on the Mexico Border. 43,000 population. Pima County ALSO on the Mexico border ith 400,000 population. Rox, wouldn’t you want Sheriff Dupnik to be the one to appear on Fox? He has a much biugger voice and leverage with Federal immigration than Estrada. But my point, is Pinal county (just north of Pima) Sheriff in McCain ad has skin in the game too. Why ignore him? He also deals with illegals daily. What, illegals just cross the border and stay put geographically? Sure, some do, but many find their way north. Even to other states mind you.

    I’m sure Pres. Obama in 2012 would not feature let’s say “Joe the plumber” in his Pres campaign ad. No conspiracy here.

  • Teabagger

    #
    germ says:
    May 14, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    Wow! We really need to find Mr. Republican to find out where his watch is! There are 3,000 people under it!
    #
    MichelleF MichelleF says:
    May 14, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    HAHA, germ!”

    -Tasteless.

  • RichS

    So, a lawyer (the Attorney General), comments adversely on a law and then admits he didn’t read it.

  • MichelleF

    MichelleF MichelleF says:
    May 14, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    HAHA, germ!”

    -Tasteless.

    You would know.

  • Teabagger

    I know you are but what am I?

  • Grammie

    From the DOJ website:

    “The Judiciary Act of 1789 created the Office of the Attorney General which evolved over the years into the head of the Department of Justice and chief law enforcement officer of the Federal Government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters generally and gives advice and opinions to the President and to the heads of the executive departments of the Government when so requested.”

    http://www.justice.gov/ag/about-oag.html

    Both AG Holder and BHO have been singing the same song about the AZ bill. So, either BHO hasn’t read the actual bill himself or he has been taking legal advice from our AG who also hasn’t read the bill. Both are lawyers and their in lockstep misstatements of the law leave me with no doubt that neither one gives a fig what the law actually says b/c they have what they see as a golden political opportunity.

    Can you imagine if this fool had been nominated to the Supreme Court (speculations I’ve heard on several occasions before he became AG. In fact I’ve heard it said just recently in the context that he would have been a front runner if he were not already AG. All I can say about that is “thank God for small favors”.

    BTW, why do you guys let Rocks in the Head accomplish her sole purpose here which is to divert and disrupt. Can you say TROLL? I don’t normally call other commenters stupid but in Rocks’ case I do believe that General Honore had her in mind when he coined the phrase “stuck on stupid”.

  • Alfred J. Lemire

    Something has changed that the news media have yet to discover: the Internet exists and citizens like this writer can go to primary sources and not rely on unreliable secondary sources, like print and TV news reports, as AG Holder has. Associated Press reports scanted the substance of the law ab initio, fixing more on opposition to it. A recent analytical report by AP writer Elliot Spagat, datelined San Diego, falsely described what Arizona law enforcement officers can do. Mr. Holder and his principal, the demagogue in the White House, are leftists and one can expect they would condemn a state for upholding federal law, rather than the 100 and more cities that have declared themselves “sanctuary cities.” But the news media?

    It is easy to find the law. One way: go to http://www.asleg.gov, then type HB2162 in the box at the upper right–the Arizona Web site doesn’t make the search easy–and, under “Bill Versions,” click on “Show Versions.” Then click on “House Engrossed” version, which is the one signed on April 30, amending the law signed on April 23. Key section: 11-1051.

    I used Word to do a word count: including the words struck out from the earlier version, but retained in the new law so one can tell what was changed, the law runs to 4,458 words, from “An act” to the end, and with things like “B.” counted as a word. Removing the stricken words, all in red, I got 4,180 words. For a President lauded by his sycophants in the news media for his heavy reading, and an AG who has threatened a suit challenging the law’s constitutionality, that’s easy and MUST reading. In five minutes, they would know a) that news reports have misrepresented the law and b) they should have shut up about it.

    I have decided to cut three more paragraphs. Briefly: the AP and the “mainstream” news media cannot be trusted to report the truth or to be fair or to make sensible conclusions from the facts. I can cite plenty of examples, including a butt-licker by an AP staffer on the Kagan appointment.

  • Alfred J. Lemire

    That has a BAD! typo. I should have typed http://www.azleg, not “www.asleg.”

  • felixw

    No one in this administration reads the laws. They just want to skip to the spending taxpayer money part of the action.

  • MichelleF

    Alfred J. Lemire says:
    May 14, 2010 at 4:16 pm
    Something has changed that the news media have yet to discover: the Internet exists and citizens like this writer can go to primary sources and not rely on unreliable secondary sources, like print and TV news reports, as AG Holder has.

    Gee, i wonder if that is why Obama is out to regulate it. Hm, something to think about it.

  • germ

    Hence, why the government wants to regulate the internet.

  • Sean68

    What he really meant to say was: “I don’t really want to slow the flow of illegal immigration until the Left has an unbreakable electoral lock on this country’s politics. So the law’s Constitutionality is irrelevant to me. Doesn’t really affect me or my family anyways.”

  • http://none pyrope

    “Uh, lemme see, I disagreed with Arizona’s new law to save their state from the economic meltdown imposed by hundreds of thousands of criminal and welfare sucking aliens, even though I had never read the text of the law, because if I had agreed with it, that would mean I agreed with the evil conservatives, and Mr. -0bama would never forgive me for that.” –Eric Holder

  • Sunnyr

    Holder made a complete A$$ of himself, AGAIN! Hilarious! Wonder how much longer he is going to last. For some reason both Holder and Comrade Obama like to get their mouths in motion before their brains are engaged. Makes for comedy theater but also makes them look like Amateurish Bozo’s! Is it 2012 yet?

  • AmericanCowboy

    Karl Spensen says:
    May 14, 2010 at 1:38 pm
    AmericanCowboy – your presence is a BREATH of FRESH AIR around here, much like MarkStr8toHell (whatever happened to HIM?!1)!!1 You’re a STRAIGHT SHOOTER who truly speaks for the TEA PARTY MOVEMENT, unlike snooty elitists like ImNotBlue and his cohorts!!1 Keep on tellin it like it IS, because YOU are the greatest representation of Our Side I’ve seen here YET!!1

    ——x——–x——–x———x———x——-x———x———x———-x———x———–x————-

    Thanks but I dont want to disappoint you.

    I am not a Republican. I am way farther Right than they are. I am not a Tea Party Member. I am way farther right than they are.

    I am just waiting for some kook to pull the trigger on the Commie. I would never be involved in something like that but I would have a party if it happened. The only other person I have wished death on is Bin Laden. I beleive Obama is worse than Bin Laden. Obama has done more damage to America than Bin Laden ever could.

    Obama has quadrupled the deficit (2009 Budget Deficit) in just one year and will double the national debt (Collective Budget Deficits). I beleive he is doing it on purpose. He wants to bankrupt America and create a One World Government. Obama is a traitorous enemy of America.

  • lucyreddy

    Is Holder such an idiot as to not understand it’s inappropriate for the Attorney General to make public statements about a law he’s not even read?
    r4i sdhc

  • AmericanCowboy

    lucyreddy says:
    May 15, 2010 at 1:54 am
    Is Holder such an idiot as to not understand it’s inappropriate for the Attorney General to make public statements about a law he’s not even read?

    —–x——x———x———-x——-x———-x———-x——–x————-x

    Yes

  • writer

    Perhaps Holder is like Johnny Carson’s Karnac the Magnificent. He held an envelope containing the law up to his forehead, and automatically knew he didn’t like it.

  • AmericanCowboy

    Buycott Arizona. Visit the Great State of Arizona this year. I have planned a trip to Scottsdale for June. Scottsdale has some amazing resorts, great restaurants and shopping, a wild nightlife and some of the greatest golf courses on earth. They also have the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Let’s support the Great State by spending money there. Vote out politicians who don’t support legal immigration.

  • RichS

    And all of this talk about how the police will be pulling over innocent fathers taking their children for ice cream is bull. I don’t live on the southern border but here in Red Bank, NJ their are about 100 or more illegal aliens standing in a strip mall on West Front Street every weekday morning. Want to clamp down on illegal immigration? Let the Red Bank police arrest the illegals and the people who go to hire them every morning. We are always told that illegals pay taxes. Do you think they fill out w2s or 1099s every morning when they are picked up. I’m sure just about every decent sized commercial center in the country has a few of the places like the ones I described. Why are we debating illegal immigration as if these places didn’t exist.

    Oh, to further the hypocracy, a few years ago five illegals picked the Red Bank police station because a police sgt, who also ran a landscaping company, was being sued by these illegals who were his employees. Round them up, ship the illegals home and take legal action against those hiring them. That is a pretty simple answer to the problem.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ed-Durffee/1311278663 Ed Durffee

    To AmericanCowboy, Thanks and I Agree, Arizona is a great state with much to offer anyone with the time to take it all in..Arizona is also a state used to being ignored but not afraid to do the right thing, NO MATTER HOW HARD that might be.

    There is no help from Washington, Obama is in the counting room stacking up coins and figuring out where to send the next pile. HE is bankrupting this country, He is dismantling this country and our way of life. He is surrounded with the most inept cronies I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing. He has no thought of whats good only what gets him power. Why good Liberals still support him is beyond understanding. I know, many are leaving by the droves, good for them, but how much more damage will he inflict before we can throw him out of DC.

    Come to Arizona, support a Brave and sometimes lonely state. Yes we have some serious bad illegals here, and we also have many honest hard working legal immigrants, people you will learn to love and respect. But this state needs help to protect those who came here legally to make a life, they dont want it dirtied by illegals and drug runners and kidnappers. Let Arizona do its job, and the Feds need to get that fence build and now.

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