The Republican Who Could Kill Affirmative Action and the Voting Rights Act

[Melinda]

You may never have heard of him, but Edward Blum could turn out to be the nation's most successful opponent of laws designed to mitigate racial inequality. Working virtually alone, this failed Republican congressional candidate has helped orchestrate legal challenges that could polish off affirmative action and a key section of the Voting Rights Act.

According to an illuminating profile from Reuters, Blum, under the auspices of his Project of Fair Representation group, spent three years looking for a white college applicant who had been rejected from her institution of choice despite having adequate credentials. The "former stockbroker" eventually settled on (now) 22-year old Abigail Fisher, who had failed to secure admission to the University of Texas at Austin. Reuters notes that civil rights groups also find candidates to "tee up" cases for laws they don't like, but Blum never actually found the kind of applicant he was looking for, because UT says Fisher's credentials weren't good enough to get into the school in the first place. Blum did find a case: Fisher's challenge to UT's attempt to supplement its color-blind top ten percent admissions policy with race-conscious affirmative action was argued before the Supreme Court this year, and found a slate of conservative justices eager to strike down affirmative action.

The Fisher case is not Blum's only accomplishment. He's also responsible for helping set up two challenges to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, the landmark civil rights legislation that ensured black access to the franchise after decades of Jim Crow. Jurisdictions covered by Section 5 have to submit their election rule changes to the Justice Department for pre-approval because of a history of discrimination. Most—but not all—covered jurisdictions are in the South. Jurisdictions can "bail out" with a history of good behavior, but many conservatives still consider the law an anachronistic form of federal overreach because racism is over and stuff. In 2009, Blum financed Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One (NAMUDNO) v. Holder, which lead to a Supreme Court ruling that left Section 5 hanging by a thread. He's also financing Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder, which may kill Section 5 once and for all.

Mother Jones

His personal back-story as a failed republican Congressional candidate is behind all his efforts above, and given the conservative control of SCOTUS, he may succeed in his efforts to undo both. Decades and decades of activism, people dying to ensure others have the right to vote, not to mention the potential undoing of educational opportunities for those who would otherwise be turned away from campuses everywhere... This guy's a racist, and he's worked on this fight for years. Much, much more at link.

[Smilo]

1. Blum is lead contender for the title "Scum Racist of the year"

Bastard.

[Melinda]

2. I just read he is also AEI... shoulda known.

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. Just another ...

republican, denied what he was entitled to, not because the people didn't like him; but rather, the burden of his whiteness.

[ROBROX]

4. JUST ANOTHER RECYCLED THUG

These people come from the same evil place to do their evil no matter who pays them. This guy seems to be paid enough money to do his evil job. he must be paid directly for the devil to be on the dole so long after not being ELECTED.