CNSNews.com reports that Democrats are up in arms because Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) voted with Republicans and allowed a judicial nominee out of committee. Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) is concerned Judge Leslie Southwick may be a racist.

Note Senator Leahy’s answer to this problem:

Leahy urged that President Bush nominate an African-American to the Fifth Circuit because of the racism allegations associated with Southwick and Pickering. “With an ever-growing number of outstanding African-American lawyers in Mississippi, the state with the highest percentage of African Americans in the country, it is not as if there is a dearth of qualified candidates,” said Leahy. (emphasis mine)

Senator Leahy denounces racism on the one hand and uses racism on the other to determine who would be a qualified candidate. Brilliant!