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Alexander Acosta: Trump pick for labor secretary is Muslim-defending Hispanic Alexander Acosta: Trump pick for labor secretary is Muslim-defending Hispanic
(35 minutes later)
On the surface, Alexander Acosta, Donald Trump’s new pick for labor secretary, seems an unusual choice for a president who has gone out of his way to attack many of the things Acosta has defended.On the surface, Alexander Acosta, Donald Trump’s new pick for labor secretary, seems an unusual choice for a president who has gone out of his way to attack many of the things Acosta has defended.
The only son of Cuban immigrants, and the first Hispanic pick for a president who has gone out of his way to offend the Hispanic community, he is currently the dean of Florida International University College of Law. He serves on the Commission for Hispanic Rights and Responsibilities and was named one of the 50 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine.The only son of Cuban immigrants, and the first Hispanic pick for a president who has gone out of his way to offend the Hispanic community, he is currently the dean of Florida International University College of Law. He serves on the Commission for Hispanic Rights and Responsibilities and was named one of the 50 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine.
More controversially still – for Trump – he has staunchly defended the rights of Muslim Americans, once asking the justice department to intervene on behalf of an Oklahoma teen who had been told to remove her headscarf at school.More controversially still – for Trump – he has staunchly defended the rights of Muslim Americans, once asking the justice department to intervene on behalf of an Oklahoma teen who had been told to remove her headscarf at school.
In 2011, speaking before a Senate judiciary committee on “Protecting the rights of American Muslims”, Acosta called the US a “nation built on principles of freedom, and high on the list of freedoms is freedom of religious expression. Indeed, as is well known to this Committee, this freedom pre-dates our Constitution.” He went on to criticize France for being too intolerant (the exact opposite view to his new boss) when it introduced a ban on “headscarves, kippahs, crosses and any other religious clothing or jewelry. Our government, by contrast, protected religious expression,” he said. In 2011, speaking before a Senate judiciary committee on “Protecting the rights of American Muslims”, Acosta called the US a “nation built on principles of freedom, and high on the list of freedoms is freedom of religious expression. Indeed, as is well known to this Committee, this freedom pre-dates our Constitution.” He went on to criticize France for being too intolerant (the exact opposite view to his new boss) when it introduced a ban on “headscarves, kippahs, crosses and any other religious clothing or jewelry. Our government, by contrast, protected religious expression”, he said.
As US attorney for the southern district of Florida, Acosta went after disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Swiss bank UBS for aiding tax evaders and a doctor accused of illegally prescribing painkillers. Acosta even worked on the National Labor Relations Board in 2002 and 2003 – suggesting he may actually know what the labor secretary is supposed to do: “promote and develop the welfare of working people, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment”.As US attorney for the southern district of Florida, Acosta went after disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Swiss bank UBS for aiding tax evaders and a doctor accused of illegally prescribing painkillers. Acosta even worked on the National Labor Relations Board in 2002 and 2003 – suggesting he may actually know what the labor secretary is supposed to do: “promote and develop the welfare of working people, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment”.
But liberals wondering if Trump has changed tack dramatically after the disastrous fall of his former pick fast-food CEO Andrew Puzder, shouldn’t get too excited. The Harvard graduate clerked for supreme court justice Samuel Alito, arguably the most consistently conservative justice on the current court.But liberals wondering if Trump has changed tack dramatically after the disastrous fall of his former pick fast-food CEO Andrew Puzder, shouldn’t get too excited. The Harvard graduate clerked for supreme court justice Samuel Alito, arguably the most consistently conservative justice on the current court.
In 2004, while serving as assistant attorney general for the civil rights division of the Department of Justice, Acosta notified a federal judge that the justice department had no problem with Republican plans to post thousands of partisan challengers at polling stations ahead of the election. “It is totally unusual, it is unprecedented for the justice department to offer its opinions on the merits of a case like that,” Al Gerhardstein, a lawyer representing two civil rights activists who wanted the poll watchers banned, said at the time. “This is the civil rights division saying it is OK for voters to be ambushed when they reach for a ballot. That’s how the letter reads to me.”In 2004, while serving as assistant attorney general for the civil rights division of the Department of Justice, Acosta notified a federal judge that the justice department had no problem with Republican plans to post thousands of partisan challengers at polling stations ahead of the election. “It is totally unusual, it is unprecedented for the justice department to offer its opinions on the merits of a case like that,” Al Gerhardstein, a lawyer representing two civil rights activists who wanted the poll watchers banned, said at the time. “This is the civil rights division saying it is OK for voters to be ambushed when they reach for a ballot. That’s how the letter reads to me.”
Scrutiny of the 47-year-old has only just begun. And as Puzder found, skeletons in appointees’ closets soon start rattling once the nomination process begins. The fast-food lobbyists who did so much to undo Puzder promised they would be watching closely.Scrutiny of the 47-year-old has only just begun. And as Puzder found, skeletons in appointees’ closets soon start rattling once the nomination process begins. The fast-food lobbyists who did so much to undo Puzder promised they would be watching closely.
Aiesha Meadows McLaurin, a Burger King worker from Chicago and a member of the Fight for $15 minimum wage lobby, said: “Workers in the Fight for $15 just proved that when we stand together, even fast-food CEOs and presidents can’t ignore us. Working Americans need a labor secretary who will have our backs, not one who will hold us back. We look forward to learning more about Mr Acosta’s record as the confirmation process unfolds. If confirmed, we will hold Mr Acosta accountable as labor secretary and do whatever it takes to make sure that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington. No matter who becomes labor secretary, we won’t back down for one second in our fight. We’ll keep taking to the streets, standing up and speaking out until we win $15 and union rights for all.”Aiesha Meadows McLaurin, a Burger King worker from Chicago and a member of the Fight for $15 minimum wage lobby, said: “Workers in the Fight for $15 just proved that when we stand together, even fast-food CEOs and presidents can’t ignore us. Working Americans need a labor secretary who will have our backs, not one who will hold us back. We look forward to learning more about Mr Acosta’s record as the confirmation process unfolds. If confirmed, we will hold Mr Acosta accountable as labor secretary and do whatever it takes to make sure that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington. No matter who becomes labor secretary, we won’t back down for one second in our fight. We’ll keep taking to the streets, standing up and speaking out until we win $15 and union rights for all.”