Thomas Perez may lead labor in United States into an exciting future, if he is confirmed as Secretary of the US Labor Department. Good diversity news, and also deep partisanship, came to the news forefront on Monday, when President Barack Obama nominated the US Justice Department's alum to the position of Secretary in the US Department of Labor.
Perez's heritage is Dominica
n, making him the first Latino nominee to a cabinet position, which garners praise from diversity advocates on both sides of the political spectrum. This nomination also drew immediate criticism from Republican lawmakers, and will likely certainly spark new debate about how labor is best governed, and by whom.
Mr. Perez has worked with the Justice Department since 2009, as the Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Director at the Department of Justice. According to his bio on VoteSmart, 51-year-old Perez is a graduate of Harvard Law School, studied Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and received his BA from Brown University in Political Science/International Studies.
Obama outlined some of Perez's impressive credentials this morning in his announcement, showing his candidate to be an accomplished advocate for all types of workers in the rapidly changing American labor force. The President told members of the press: "As a civil rights attorney, an aide to Senator Ted Kennedy, a member of the Montgomery, Maryland County Council, Tom fought for a level playing field where hard work and responsibility are rewarded and working families can get ahead."
Several Republican critics leaned on an unfavorable internal investigation about the Justice Department's voting rights section to express their unhappiness with Obama's choice of nominee. Regarding this report, The Washington Post explained earlier this month, he was actually a catalyst for improvement within the Justice Department, helping the agency push inefficiency further into the past.
In the time leading up to the confirmation hearings of Thomas Perez, liberals and conservatives alike will certainly learn more about this accomplished and progressive leader, continue to redefine the middle class, and hopefully find common ground in the needs and rights of America's workers.
Photo source: Wikimedia
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Comments: 53
Just ask people in Philly - that were visuallyu threatened at the polls - the case was won, waiting for sentencing, and the 'new' 2009 justice dept in charge of civil rights, let them go with no sentence.
"Progressive" = Communist - look at the history of all the groups that have the word 'Prgressive' in them - they used to be socialist or communist.
Dont take my word, and dont argue - look into it for yourself.
In the minds of extremist conservatives currently using the Koch brother's vehicle (the so-called Tea Party) to take over the Republican party and drive out moderates and other rational folks, the only alternative to their narrow point of view is communism.
They are so far from correct that it is not funny, but even if they were right... I'd rather be a communist than a right winger.
Del suggested that you research his words, if they sound racist maybe there is a reason why. If racism is your beef and living in a color blind society is the goal, then we might just have something in common. But you have to have the courage to learn the truth.
did you read his comments? There were 2 black men standing at the voting places not a mob...I guarantee you that there were more than 2 white guys but for some reason they weren't mentioned..why is that.
He is full of it among other things..he has shown his colors over and over again.
What is wrong with what he said in this thread?
" I'd rather be a communist than a right winger. "
Really, now that is a revelation. We know you like Tyranny over Freedom. But you have never told us why you like to be dominated like that?
Fill in the blanks for us.
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
--Thomas Jefferson
Why are you so timid?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9HdvBb8HBk
"He said the administration abandoned an open-and-shut case of voter intimidation and that Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez gave false testimony before the commission in May." (2010)
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/05/justice-attorney-set-testify-new-black-panther-case/#ixzz2OAq7Lo3s
The fool's a menace to a Representative Republic.
What you are missing is that Renee (who is paranoid of all Black Men) has convinced Del and all her other lackies that the world will come to an end if the Obama Administration does not order the DOJ to arrest all (2) known members of the NBPP before they spit on the street or engage in some other similar inappropriate action.
As to Clark and his truth, everyone knows that Youtube and Fox News are both creditable media sources. He even listed the links, which says that he believes others actually care.
You can't even feel sorry for a person who is so indoctrinated with extremist propaganda that the he believes everyone will understand the problem and the answer to it, if they would just take the time to read the disingenuous garbage themselves.
Talk about a person being naive and misinformed, Clark may just be the Poster Child.
Del points out in few words, that Perez had the chance to help do the right thing by upholding the people's right to vote and failed. While Perez sided with those who chose to stand in the middle of the entrance of a polling place wearing military type garb and holding a club. This clear voter intimidation was committed by an individual that advocated the killing of "crackers" and there babies. Del also pointed out that the word "Progressive" is code speak for communist and socialist. Del suggested to research these things for yourself.
Lori chose to not research these topics and made assumptions about what Del said, inferring that it was racist and homophobic.
I politely pointed out that she is mistaken about her assumption and suggested that she read up on what Del had said.
Lori retorted something incoherent and refused to learn why Del's comment sounded racist.
I then used some links to illustrate why Del might say some of these things but you chose not to question the content but the source. Really? Feel free to look up what Del and I are talking about and feel free to cite any sources that illustrate an alternate reality, one that more closely resembles that which exists in your world.
If this conversation couldn't get any more incoherent, Scott chimes in with a redundant attack on the source I gave failing to point out any deficiencies in its content.
Wild stab in the dark but if a comment sounds racist the reason usually is because the person is a racist.
Much like if a person looks tall it is because they are tall.
As noted below Lori researched and did not use talking points, paranoia or innuendo..clark on the other hand used no research and relied on talking points, paranoia and innuendo"
referring to yourself in the second person .......
Forget which identity you were using?
Feel free to project a liberal concept like talking points on me, but history is not a talking point.
Keep ignoring the truth, it will imprison you.
Jesse no I didn't forget who I was I was replying to what Clark said. Pretty silly comment.
About time the mice in Mouseville had a mouse in charge, instead of yet another fat cat.
To you.
Yep. Only Leftists would even make mention of such an inane and meaningless piece of information. The issue at hand is whether he is capable of the job...and the answer is NO.
Thomas Edward Perez (born October 7, 1961) is an American politician, consumer advocate and civil rights lawyer, who served as the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice. Perez was appointed by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley to serve as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) in January 2007, until his October 2009 confirmation by the United States Senate as Assistant Attorney General. On March 18, 2013, Perez was nominated by President Barack Obama to be the United States Secretary of Labor, replacing outgoing Secretary Hilda Solis.[1][2]
Now where do you feel he is lacking and not experienced?
When they lose the fall from grace is hard. grumble, grumble, whine, whine, whine. And life goes on.
Lori, see Del's thread above and my recap! Don't ignore the truth!
Now, who is the one interjecting race into the discussion ??? Clark, your flag is drooping, as is your argument.
Suggestion, go play on articles written by Renee or in your sandbox, but, stay away from adult conversations, inasmuch as you are sorely lacking in the knowledge required to compete on a level playing field.
Upon hearing of the proposed nomination (Presidential appointment) of Mr. Perez, I began to research all personal history which could found concerning or associated with him from every source available. In doing so, I have come to the conclusion that Mr. Perez is not only sufficiently qualified for the Cabinet Post of Sec. of Labor, but may well be the presently most qualified person for that position.
Some members may challenge my assessment and question why I have not included links to support my position. To those members, I say, stop questioning, stop listening to asinine commentators and start researching for yourselves. Such naysayers among us are always quick to denigrate the POTUS on anything he does as our country's leader or quick to disavow anyone he proposes for any Cabinet Post. But true to form, the cynical naysayers are always to lazy to do a little work to back up your opposition and I, for one, am sick of doing it for you.
FEI: Gather News is suppose to be a public forum for debate among the membership. I have therefore, offered my opinion in the above comment, those with opposing opinions should write comments with documentation to prove my position to be wrong, in part or whole. That's the way a debate works. I don't need to prove my opinionated position, others must prove me wrong. Let's try debating for a change and stop with the sarcastic oneliners and off topic strawman issues as a way of opposing a members position.