"The substance of the department's case is an affront on several levels. First, Justice is defending its decision that voters in the town of Kinston, N.C., are too dumb to know what form of voting is in their own best interests. Second, it claims that the only way Kinston's black majority can elect their 'candidates of choice' is if the candidates are identified as Democrats. Third, the department defends the proposition that a single Justice official can override an entire local referendum - supposedly on civil rights voting grounds - even if the town and county haven't been guilty of discriminatory voting actions in almost 50 years. Finally, the department would deny that a collection of individual voters even has legal standing to argue its case in court because 'their alleged injuries are not sufficient' unless the town's elected officials join their case.
In short, individuals have no court rights of their own; only government minders can speak for the people."
EDITORIAL: Justice Department road trip
Washington Times:
