Last night Senator Akaka’s office sent out and e-mail seeking to discredit the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, which has thoroughly criticized the race-based Hawaii bill that’s up for a cloture vote today in the Senate.

Longtime NRO readers know well that the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was a circus not too long ago….remember Mary Frances Berry refusing to step down? Refusing to acknowledge Peter Kirsanow? Well the commission has come a long way—take as evidence #1 Gerry Reynolds as chairman, and our man Peter Kirsanow as one of their most outspoken members. My understanding is that the GAO report Akaka’s office is sending around has to do with a lot of the institutional remnants from that bad old time. And I don’t think Reynolds or anyone else (read Kirsanow here if you doubt me) would deny they walked into a mess and there are miles to go yet. But back to the issue at hand: Akaka’s e-mail is a distraction. Let’s get back to the awfulness of the bill, thank you.