Political Quotes

“Madam President, today this body will have the chance to vote on the nomination of the highly qualified Sri Srinivasan for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. I am a member of the Judiciary Committee and have had the honor and privilege of chairing Mr. Srinivasan's confirmation hearing. I can say, without question, he has the background, skills and, perhaps most importantly, the temperament to serve as a circuit court judge. He is one of the single most qualified judicial nominees I have seen in my years in this body, and he deserves better than the games which have been played with his confirmation. He already has bipartisan support. Now let's work together and give him a strong bipartisan vote. The Constitution of the United States gives the Senate the responsibility to advise and consent to the President's nominations for important posts, such as the bench of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. It is certainly our responsibility to review and vet candidates--nominees--who come over from the President. We should not simply serve as a rubberstamp but neither should we be a firewall, unreasonably blocking qualified nominees from service at the highest levels of our government. Our Nation's courts should be above politics. When the President submits a highly qualified candidate of good character and sound legal mind, as that of Mr. Srinivasan, then absent exceptional circumstances that candidate should be entitled to a rollcall vote.…”