Problematic FEC Nominee Withdraws Name… Finally

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Hans von Spakovsky, the major hold-up in seating the FEC and the GOP’s point man in disenfranchising minority voters, may finally exit the national stage.

President Bush’s contentious nominee for the Federal Election Commission removed his name from consideration Friday, potentially ending a lengthy stalemate that had paralyzed the work of the agency.

Hans von Spakovsky, a former Justice Department official who never had Democratic support to win confirmation, withdrew his nomination, saying it was time for the protracted deadlock to end….

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., welcomed von Spakovsky’s withdrawal. Democrats have charged that von Spakovsky tried to suppress voter participation through new restrictions such as voter identification laws and voter roll purges.

“Democrats stood united in their opposition to von Spakovsky because of his long and well-documented history of working to suppress the rights of minorities and the elderly to vote,” Reid said. “He was not qualified to hold any position of trust in our government.”

Progress has already been made on the FEC. This may seal the deal. Next step: Get to work.

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