Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I join my colleague from Connecticut, Senator Blumenthal, and others in urging my colleagues to oppose the nomination of Lawrence VanDyke. I may risk repeating some of the ground that has been covered by Senator Blumenthal, but I think it is important enough that we reiterate over and over the dangerous nature of this particular nomination. I have come down to speak on the floor in opposition to maybe only a handful of the President's judicial nominees. In fact, if you look up the voting record, I probably am amongst a very small handful of Democrats who have routinely voted for the President's nominees--not just judicial nominees but also his appointments to positions in his administration. Often in committee, I am the only Democrat supporting some of the President's nominees and appointments, and that is because I have come to the conclusion that this body should give deference to the administration and to the President when it comes particularly to filling the positions of those who work for him in political appointments but to a degree as well in the judiciary. So I put my votes where my test is, and probably with only two or three exceptions in the Democratic caucus, I have voted for more of the President's nominees than the rest of my colleagues on this side of the aisle. My test is pretty simple. One, I want individuals who are qualified.…”