Politics
In Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis charged Donald Trump with 13 felonies that she said were an attempt by him to undermine the 2020 presidential election in a state won by Joe Biden.
Willis also appointed Nathan Wade as special prosecutor for the case, with whom he has since acknowledged having a personal relationship.
To most observers this might seem like a conflict of interest. Willis denies there is any conflict of interest.
The whole mess led Newsweek writer Kira Davis to question whether Willis, a woman of color, was incompetent and only got her position because of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) mandates.
This accusation angered ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
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“This woman should be ashamed of herself”
Kira Davis wrote that Willis’ recent defense in court during the misconduct hearing revealed that the “diversity-first system” has become an “absolute disaster for hard-working black Americans.”
During a Sunday broadcast, Smith took a break from sports to get political and attack Davis and her allegations.
“This woman should be ashamed of herself,” Smith said of Davis. “Because whatever Fani Willis may have done wrong, she had absolutely nothing to do with diversity, equity and inclusion. She has absolutely nothing to do with DEI.”
“For the position she holds, no one questions that she is qualified for it,” he insisted. “You may not like her and her personal choices: having an affair with a contemporary. I understand that part; but to sit there and say it’s a DEI issue just because he’s in her position is absolutely ridiculous.
DEI efforts should promote people from supposedly underrepresented groups in the workplace. Critics of DEI say this means putting minority community members in positions they don’t deserve or aren’t necessarily suited for, in the name of political racial quotas.
This is what Davis seemed to imply about Willis.
Smith also disliked Davis’ description of Willis as “angry” and “stupid.” According to him, these words convey a certain type of racism.
“By the way, a black woman accusing Fani Willis of not being refined and classy and not being able to stay level-headed,” Smith said, “while answering an uncomfortable barrage of questions on the stand…”
“So, he had an attitude. She didn’t like being bombarded with questions like that, and so that attitude came out in her; and because of that this compromises her qualifications?” Smith added.
Smith’s interpretation of Willis’ attitude and behavior on the witness stand is not shared by all. Here is one of the episodes in question:
“It doesn’t make sense, Mrs. Davis,” Smith said. “It makes absolutely no sense. You have to stop,” she concluded.
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DEI To hire or not?
Stephen A. Smith is one of ESPN’s most prominent personalities.
Willis is obviously in an important position, as he makes accusations that could affect a former – and perhaps future – president of the United States.
Whether DEI belongs with Fani Willis in that position is debatable.
But it’s clearly true that at least one ESPN host doesn’t like that charge.
Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.
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