Kevin Roberts: “I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Arizona. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, Mr. Fanning…”

“I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Arizona. Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, Mr. Fanning has nothing to do with the issue. We are shooting a hostage that has nothing to do with the decisionmaking process. If we inaugurate a practice here of holding nominees over an issue that is not related to those nominees, we are abusing our power and authority as U.S. Senators. Secondly, the Senator from Kansas knows he cannot have the President call him. If he did that, he would then have to call 99 other Senators who would then hold up nominees because they have not been assured that detainees will not be relocated to their States according to any plan that the President may come up with. What we are doing is telling a nominee who is totally and eminently qualified for the job that that person cannot fulfill those responsibilities and take on that very important leadership post because of an unrelated issue that has nothing to do with Mr. Fanning. That is not the appropriate use of senatorial privilege. What if we set this precedent and every Senator--100 Senators--adopts the practice of saying: I don't want the President to pursue a certain course of action, therefore I will hold his or her nominees hostage until they take a certain course of action. That is not the role of advice and consent. That is a distortion of advice and consent. Let me say, I will be coming back to the floor on Mr. Fanning's nomination. It is not fair to him.…”