LA Times: Is Obama Politicizing The Justice Department

Andrew Malcolm at the LA Times picks up on the Purdon controversy, noting a heavy smell of hypocrisy among liberals who moaned about Bush “politicizing” the Justice Department.

Bill Brudvik, a disappointed candidate for the U.S. Attorney’s spot, told the Fargo Forum: “When President Obama said he wanted to restore the independence and dignity of the U.S. attorney’s office, in light of the Alberto Gonzales fiasco, and then appoints a political activist and party fundraiser, it seems a little to me more like ‘politics as usual’ than ‘change we can believe in.’”
To pick Purdon, Obama’s Justice Department passed over Asst. U.S. Attorney Janice Morley.
It is, of course, common practice for presidents to name their own supporters to the 93 U.S. Attorney positions around the country, although many do have at least some prosecutorial experience.
When the last president, George W. Bush, tried to replace some U.S. Attorneys, there was such a hue and cry from Congress about a Republican administration “politicizing” the U.S. Justice Department. It was like some Attorneygate. The criticism and denunciations and even investigation calls continued for some time.
Of course, that was when the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress.. And they still do. So Obama may have stirred up a real political hornets nest and face some very stern — oh, wait! In 2008 voters added the White House to the control of Democrats.
So, the chances of a Democratic Congress making a stink for a Democratic president over the White House politicizing the Democratic Justice Department by naming a Democratic National Committee member and Democratic donor as a federal prosecutor is right around the temperature in North Dakota this time of year — absolute zero.

Funny how that works, isn’t it? When Bush fired some US Attorneys because they weren’t doing the job like he wanted he was “politicizing” the Justice Department.
But when Democrats appoint a well-connected fund raiser and member of their party’s national committee, suddenly they’re not nearly so concerned about “politicizing” the position.
Again, Obama is President. He can appoint who he wants. Elections have consequences. But the hypocrisy here is so thick you could cut it with a knife.