HispanicVista Columnists

My esteemed colleague Ruben Navarrett, with whom I rarely disagree, published in his syndicated column his opinion that Alberto (Beto) Gonzales is the wrong target in the issue of the firings of the eight United States Attorneys.

This is a historical moment for the United States. Not since FDR tried to pack the Supreme Court has a single act of an individual been designed to place fear in the administration of justice.

Let us all remember maritime law, there is only one captain of the ship. In this instance, the captain is Gonzales, not the guy who resigned and according to all reports signed the letters of termination.

Gonzales cannot claim he did not know about the terminations, it is his job to know. It is his job to preserve, protect, defend and give honor to the Constitution of the United States.

Here is the question of the day, Why should “Beto” go?

When Hitler became the guy in charge, one of the first acts he performed was to destroy the justice system. He removed judges and prosecutors who refused to follow his interpretation of the law. His acts guaranteed a system of “Law and Order”.

I agree with Ruben, that the President is also responsible for allowing Carl Rove to interfere with the personnel process of the U.S. Attorneys. It now looks like there has been a high crime and misdemeanor worthy of indictment against President Bush.

However, claiming that poor ole “Beto” is just the subject of the left wing press is, as they say in Texas, a dog that don’t hunt.

To try to throw mud on the window, by claiming that “ Beto” is being targeted because he suborned perjury during a long forgotten Governor’s race is irrelevant and Ruben should know better.

I do not care about all the so-called reasons why the Attorney General is being targeted, it is he, and he alone, who is responsible for the firings. He had a choice. The same choice that Elliot Richardson had during the Nixon administration, Elliot however chose to be fired himself for refusing an (illegal) order. When we compare the two Attorneys, Gonzales comes up short.

The sole purpose of the firings was to strike fear in the hearts and minds of the U.S. Attorneys that remain at their posts. Today the remaining U.S. Attorneys know that at a moments notice they can be fired for doing their jobs the way they swore to do them. If they had any guts, they would resign in mass.

Shame on Gonzales, and shame on Ruben, I expected better of both of them.
_______________________________________________________
©Steven J. Ybarra JD is a retired civil rights attorney who operates a consultant company in California. He is a member of the Democratic National Committee and a long time political activist. Contact Steven at: sjybarra@aol.com, This article is copyright by Steven J. Ybarra JD, originally published in www.Hispanicvista.com but permission is granted for reprint in print, email, blog, or web media if this entire credit paragraph is attached.