Bill Bennett: “I have been watching these proceedings on television in my office. I have heard some of the presentations that have been…”

“I have been watching these proceedings on television in my office. I have heard some of the presentations that have been made. It seems that emotions are running high on this issue on both sides, and I can understand that, and maybe, given the stakes we are playing with, applaud the fact that people feel strongly enough to come to the floor and express themselves. I wish to make a few comments simply in reaction to some of the statements I heard this afternoon, however. Perhaps no one will notice, but in my own mind I will have done something to set the record straight. The Democratic leader talked at some length about Miguel Estrada's supervisor at the Department of Justice, a supervisor who has now publicly stated that he does not think Mr. Estrada should be confirmed. That is obviously that supervisor's right, and it is something I think we should appropriately take into consideration. That which I would point out, however, is that while Mr. Estrada was working there, that same supervisor gave him the highest possible ratings in his annual performance reviews.”