Being the junior Senator from South Carolina is already a full time job, but that’s not stopping the hard-working Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) from appointing himself to a new position: Attorney General of the United States. DeMint, along with Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), is attempting to block the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Arizona’s racial profiling bill.

Not to be out-restrictionisted, former comprehensive immigration reform supporter, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) donated $5,000 to a legal defense fund set up for the Arizona law — even though he has questioned the legality of the law! Of course, before a few months ago McCain strenuously objected to hard-right tactics and talking points on immigration, but that was before he could feel former Representative J.D. Hayworth’s (R-AZ) primary challenge picking up steam.

The House Immigration Reform Caucus piped in as well on the issue, signing an amicus brief in support of Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ) and Arizona’s racial profiling law. Reps. Brian Bilbray (who recently declared he could tell undocumented immigrants based on their shoes) and Trent Franks have collected about 30 signatures of the 100 members of their caucus for the brief.

Of course, none of these lawmakers felt the need to intervene in the Justice Department when Attorney General Ashcroft and his successors in the Bush Administration used political ideology and religious affiliation as criteria for employment and advancement, but protecting civil rights and liberties is apparently outside the scope of what Jim DeMint’s DoJ would look like.

Categories: Arizona