February 13, 2003
Houston Chronicle
Attention: Mr. David Langworthy, Outlook Editor
Via Email: davidlangworthy@chron.com
Re: Rebuttal to Mr. Michael Olívas letter opposing nomination of Mr. Estrada to the bench published Feb. 12, 2003
Greeting Mr. Langworthy:
I am fairly disappointed with Mr. Olívas arguments against President Bush’s nominee for the federal appeals bench, Mr. Miguel Estrada. It seems Mr. Olívas, who is; reportedly, a distinguished attorney and professor of law, has successfully contradicted himself and very poorly hidden his true political agenda. Therefore, I am inspired to respond.
Throughout Mr. Olívas’ arguments he complains that Mr. Estrada has not provided substantial responses to the legislature’s inquiries of his positions. Yet, from this same lack of evidence Mr. Olívas concludes that Mr. Estrada will “roll back the civil rights of Latinos…” and “…he could very well compromise the rights of Latino voters under the Voting Rights Act.” I’m surprised that Mr. Olívas did not accuse Mr. Estrada of attempting to repeal the Bill of Rights or of spitting on the American Flag. In fact, Mr. Olívas went on to complain that, “Estrada provided no information to bring us closer to believing he would be fair to litigants…” Thus, by providing no evidence there is no evidence to the contrary either.
But what about being Latino and not being Latino according to Mr. Olívas. Stipulating to a variety of points early in his essay, Mr. Olívas confirms that both the United States and Latinos need Latinos on the bench. Why? Because, Mr. Olívas contends that only Latinos can understand Latinos. I do not dispute that. But Mr. Olívas does! He stated “…having a Spanish surname and being able to speak Spanish is not enough.” My question is, if Mr. Estrada’s being Latino, born and raised, an immigrant from a Latin American country, an American success story and potentially the first Latino to attain such a lofty position is not enough, what is enough?
Mr. Olívas contends that Mr. Estrada is not qualified, and inexperienced. I dispute that. According to Associated Press’ Jesse J. Holland’s article published that same day, Feb. 12, 2003, in the Houston Chronicle, Mr. Estrada “…graduated from Harvard Law School...” and “has practiced constitutional law and argued 15 cases before the Supreme Court.” For a relatively young man, I believe that is a very impressive record.
Mr. Olívas’ association with MALDEF (which has done much good work for Latinos in the past) clearly colors his political stance as very liberal and his reveals his motivations in this matter. Among his complaints about Mr. Estrada, Mr. Olívas lets it slip that he is concerned that Mr. Estrada may limit the access that “…groups who have historically represented the interests of the Latino community…” have with the courts. Who are these groups? Mr. Olívas provided a list that includes the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, numerous Latino Union leaders and the Hispanic and Black Caucuses. It reads like a “Who’s Who…” among liberal politicians. “Our opposition is not partisan. MALDEF recognizes and well expects that Bush will appoint many well-qualified Republican Latinos who are conservative. Indeed, MALDEF has supported those nominations…” Name one Mr. Olívas!
Still, Mr. Olívas’ main concern seems to be that he and his liberal associates may no longer be the only advocates in town. What does that mean? Past elections have shown that Latinos are voting conservative in larger and larger numbers. The Republican Party’s conservative positions appeal to many Latinos. This really means that liberals and the Democrats are facing the prospect that their political power base is shrinking. Mr. Olívas summed up fairly well with only a few corrections. Mr. Estrada is an American success story of an immigrant who worked hard, studied and earned the respect and admiration of an American President. All this was accomplished without the help of Mr. Olívas and his liberal associates. Mr. Olívas, a liberal whose power base is rapidly slipping away was correct when he stated, “…we have little choice but to oppose the nomination.”
Thank you for granting me this venue to express my opinion.
Cordially,
Lauro A. Garza
Retired Police Detective, Entrepreneur,
Political Analyst, and Author
Please contact Lauro Garza directly at:
lauroantoniogarza@hotmail.com
larrygarzaadvocacy@hotmail.com
latinotalktexas@hotmail.com
or by telephone at: 281-236-8294 cellular.
