The Justice Department continues its path towards race-based policymaking. The latest revelation? The Department's Civil Rights Division is using its power "to not just win compensation for victims of alleged discrimination but also to direct large sums of money to activist groups" to undo other lawsuits alleging discrimination.

Byron York reports over at the Washington Examiner:

In the past, when the Civil Rights Division filed suit against, say, a bank or a landlord, alleging discrimination in lending or rentals, the cases were often settled by the defendant paying a fine to the U.S. Treasury and agreeing to put aside a sum of money to compensate the alleged discrimination victims. There was then a search for those victims -- people who were actually denied a loan or an apartment -- who stood to be compensated. After everyone who could be found was paid, there was often money left over. That money was returned to the defendant.

Now, Attorney General Eric Holder and Civil Rights Division chief Thomas Perez have a new plan. Any unspent money will not go back to the defendant but will instead go to a "qualified organization" approved by the Justice Department. And if there is not enough unspent money -- that will be determined by the Department -- then the defendant might be required to come up with more money to give to the "qualified organization."

To me, this sounds like a modern twist on the disgraceful practice of champerty and maintenance: the intermeddling of a party to encourage a lawsuit. Justice is throwing around its weight to wring more money from defendants to fund groups that Justice - using its own discretion - feels are deserving of money. This money will be used to fund other lawsuits: a perpetual suing machine that will no doubt gladden the hearts and fill the pocketbooks of these activist groups but also those of trial lawyers (a key Democratic support group), as well.

Of course, the potential for this money to flow towards groups such as ACORN is clear. What is not clear is why this change in policy occurred. Where is the promised transparency and the pledge to run a post-racial Presidency, to be the President of all Americans ("there is no white America, there is no black America")? Who actually sees a black America and a white America? Is it Eric Holder and the political appointees at Justice(or Just-Us as some wags write)?

Eric Holder slurred Americans by saying we were a "nation of cowards" when it came to discussing race. Meanwhile, in his own bailiwick, he and his minions refuse to discuss their own raced-based policies (stonewalling inquiries regarding the dropping of charges against the New Black Panther Party, for example). But there are other issues that show Holder and Obama's hand-picked employees following policies that do seem to divide us into favored and disfavored groups .(See also, "Justice Department Continues to Act in Non-Race-Neutral Fashion").

If Holder wants us not to be a nation of cowards when it comes to race how about starting with himself and his department? How about answering subpoenas regarding policies put in place by him that may strike people as being discriminatory?

Change begins at the top.

Something to keep in mind in November 2010 and November 2012.