What's going on with BurlCo Dems?

by: Adam L

Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 10:30:00 AM EDT

Last week, Amy Voorhees, a 27 year old teacher unfortunately lost her life in a terrible automobile accident. The passengers of the other vehicle were both illegal immigrants who fled the scene. Mount Laurel Councilman Tracy Riley was appointed by the courts to defend the passenger in the fatal accident. And now, we get the news that Riley has resigned from her position on the Democratic Committee, citing "irreconcilable differences":

"After long conversations with the leaders of the Burlington County Democratic Party, it has become apparent we have irreconcilable differences regarding my private work," she said. "I do not want my private legal work to become a distraction in this party's pursuit of government reform. Simultaneously, I am dedicated to honoring the oath I have taken as a lawyer and will continue to provide a zealous defense as the Constitution requires. Therefore, I am resigning my position within the Burlington County Democratic Committee."

She offered no additional comment when reached by the paper. Rick Perr, the party chairman had this comment:

"Today, I have respectfully accepted Tracy Riley's resignation from the Burlington County Democratic Committee," Perr said. "Tracy is a zealous advocate for the constitutional rights of her clients and wishes to pursue her career in such a manner. As the elected chairman of the Burlington County Democratic Committee, I have taken a pledge to execute our organization's mission to represent the working families of Burlington County. It has become apparent that Tracy's private legal work may be at odds with that mission."

It may make it more difficult to elect people because of the political ramifications of the immigration issue, but I don't see how her legal work runs counter to the mission. This isn't the first time Riley's legal work has become a political football. In her unsuccessful 2007 Assembly bid, Republicans basically called her a terrorist sympathizer because her husbands law firm was representing one of the Ft. Dix defendants.

I can't help but wonder if this development only raises the profile of the issue. The Democrats were already going to be attacked over this issue regardless of Riley, as they were two years ago.

However, the point that seems disturbing is Rick Perr's statement that Riley's being an advocate for constitutional rights run counter to the mission of serving working families. Is Perr saying that the Burlington Democrats are not committed to defending the Constitutional rights of the County's working families? And isn't being appointed by the court something that a defense attorney can't decide to decline - for risk of her livelihood and career?

It's a shame that something that seems to be politically motivated turns out to be a sloppy action that seems to have the effect of telling Burlington County families that rights enumerated by the Bill of Rights isn't all that important.

Adam L :: What's going on with BurlCo Dems?

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What's going on with BurlCo Dems? | 4 comments

Wow (0.00 / 0)

Rick Perr would have kicked John Adams out of the Democratic Party for defending the British after the Boston Massacre.

Rick Perr would have kicked Clarence Darrow out of the Democratic Party for defending John Scopes.

Rick Perr sould have kicked United States Major Leon B. Poullada out of the Democratic Party for defending Nazis in the Nuremberg Trials.

by: vmars @ Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 16:11:12 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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how did it go? (0.00 / 0)

I may hate your f-ing guts but I'll defend your right to say what's on your mind.

:-)

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

by: Adam L @ Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 17:50:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

the corrollary (0.00 / 0)

is that only people that I think are worthy of defending should have their rights defended.

Oh wait, that is the republican party....

Scott Garrett - on the wrong side of, well, everything.

by: Adam L @ Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 17:51:33 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

BurlCo Dems Just Screwed Up (0.00 / 0)

Tracey Riley is just the kind of principled person that the New Jersey Democratic party should be elevating to leadership....not driving out of office.

I wish she had stuck to her guns and fought back. This is an issue that deserves an airing and a battle. My sense is that the voters are not all such stupid assholes that they would have voted her out of office just for being a defense attorney in this kind of case.

The should be no conflict between the United States Constitution and a partisan agenda...especially if that agenda includes a jingoistic appeal to a lynch mob mentality.

The emotions (given the circumstances) are understandable....but you don't run a justice system based on the heated emotions of the moment. The accused deserve a zealous defense, that's how the American system works.

This is the kind of bullshit I would have expected from Republicans. Shame on Rick Perr.

The irony is that, no matter what people like Perr do, we'll never be able to "out bigot" the Republicans; they own the bigot vote and for good reason.

The way Democrats win is to raise people's consciousness to a higher level and to then appeal at that level.

by: Nick Lento @ Wed Apr 15, 2009 at 19:23:14 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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What's going on with BurlCo Dems? | 4 comments