Senator Dianne Feinstein
11111 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 915
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Dear Senator Feinstein:
I am writing to you about the nomination of Leslie Southwick to the 5th Circuit and your role on the Senate Judiciary Committee. As you know, you voted with the majority to send him on to the full floor for an “up-down” vote. I am gravely concerned that you have surrendered not only your committee’s power, but also its wisdom.
Committees were designed to pinch off the incompetent, hateful and biased so the floor doesn’t have to. It’s a lot more risky and time-consuming to educate 50 people about Southwick than 5 specialists, and we have to endure the hateful rhetoric through that long process. You failed to do your job, and now we pay the price.
Racism and homophobia should never come to an “up-down” vote, because the Opponents of Equality do not hesitate to lie and cheat. Example: they tricked you into surrendering your power with a dubious “resolution” calling for an “up-down” vote on all candidates – exactly the thing your committee was designed to avoid.
If you cannot keep the power that California voters have given you through long tenure, then we will be more than happy to take it back and invest in somebody else.
Sincerely,