Bradley Schhlozman

Bradley Schlozman held the post of Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division during the Bush regime. A swarm of incompetent, malignant neocons corrupted the Department of Justice, but this political hack took nasty, elitist partisanship to a new level.

DOJ personnel are hired to protect citizens and enforce the law. Instead, Schlozman–a racist unaccountably supervising the Civil Rights Division–fired anyone who thought equality was a virtue. In their place, this mini-dictator appointed GOP loyalists who did all except yell “Sieg Heil!”

During his three years at the DOJ, Schlozman took charge of attorney hiring– and firing. He intentionally cut Democratic, independent or even level-headed GOP decisionmakers out of the loop, overriding any objections. Of 65 lawyers appointed on his watch, it is believed 97% were Republicans.

Schlozman’s outspoken opinions and arrogant attitude harken back to the 1950s’ terrifying Commie witch-hunt, but it would be unkind to call him a Joe McCarthy throwback. No, this guy is a throwback to the days of humanoid apes. While ensconced in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, Schlozman called liberal lawyers “Commies,” “pinkos” and “Politburo members” belonging to some “psychopathic, left-wing organization designed to overthrow the government.” You know, “insane” groups like the ACLU, B’nai B’rith, NAACP…or the Democratic Party.

Schlozman’s bigoted, sexist audacity prevailed. One potential hire, with three years’ prior experience in the DOJ, possessed “strong analytical and writing skills” (according to an employment review) and had been commended for “an excellent job in…cases decided by the Supreme Court in recent years.” However, the candidate–who’d graduated magna cum laude from a top law school–was a woman, black and a genuine civil rights specialist. A Schlozman e-mail described her as “an idiot…an affirmative action thing…wrote in Ebonics.”

Even after being reprimanded in 2004, Schlozman continued to inject politics into the halls of justice. Any qualified applicant who’d served an internship with a liberal judge was considered “not on the team.” He labeled progressive attorneys “treacherous” and blatantly told coworkers his agenda was to replace all liberal DOJ lawyers with “real Americans.”

Discussing an applicant via e-mail, Schlozman inquired, “How does he view the world, if you know what I mean?…(and for God’s sake, don’t forward this e-mail!)” Too late, Asshole!

Before Congressman Tom DeLay was indicted and eventually left office, Schlozman worked with the Republican lawmaker to redraw all Texas congressional districts in the GOP’s favor. Eventually, even the conservative Supreme Court overturned most of the scheme as a violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Schlozman was also a major proponent of voter ID laws, which demand driver’s licenses as identification at the polls–eliminating widely accepted alternatives such as Social Security cards, birth certificates and utility bills. Since licenses and ID cards issued by motor vehicle departments require fees, this constitutes a “poll tax”–a charge for the right to vote.

Of course, Schlozman knew this made voter registration difficult for young, elderly, lowerincome and handicapped citizens– most of whom usually vote Democratic. Even though the law was deemed “constitutionally suspect” by U.S. District Judge Harold L. Murphy,

Schlozman trumpeted it in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Schlozman and his butt buddy John Tanner (Voting Section Chief and another Bush flunkie) had a good chuckle over how Tanner liked his coffee: “Mary Frances Berry-style–black and bitter.” Berry, an African American, was chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from 1993 to 2004.

Like a moron, Schlozman forwarded the e-mail, along with the cutesy note, “Y’all will appreciate Tanner’s response.” When Berry demanded an apology, Schlozman proved to be as lousy a liar as he was an administrator: “‘Bitter’ has several meanings. I was referring to the taste of coffee.” Oh, yeah, brilliant save, Brad!

After conducting internal inquiries, the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility released a 70-page report in January 2009. It accused Schlozman–who resigned in August 2007–of not only violating rules on hiring, but also lying about his behavior during sworn testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Nobody ever said fascists were bright: Schlozzie apparently thought no third parties would read his hate-filled e-mails. (Who did the schmuck think he was, Karl Rove?) However, much to the disgust of Democrats, federal prosecutors have gutlessly declined to press perjury charges.

Back when he was fat and sassy at the DOJ, Schlozman smugly confided to a pal, “Perhaps the Division will name an award for me or something. How about the Brad Schlozman Award for Most Effectively Breaking the Will of Liberal Partisan Bureaucrats?” Let’s go one better: “The Brad Award for the Most Amoral Bureaucrat of the Past 20 Years.”

Schlozman has returned to private practice in Kansas–for now. But wherever this Asshole ends up, he’ll continue–like a termite–to eat away at the foundations of law and equality in this country. Make no mistake, he’ll rise back to the top, but not like cream. Like scum!