Political Quotes

“Madam President, I rise today in support of Solicitor General Elena Kagan's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. I am confident that in the years to come, she will make proud the President who has nominated her as well as those of us who vote to confirm her. I would like to begin today, if I may, first by explaining why I am supporting the nomination, and after I have done that I will outline why I believe a number of our Republican colleagues shouldn't just consider supporting that nomination but should support her nomination along with the rest of us. This is my fourth opportunity to vote on a nomination to the Supreme Court. As do each of my colleagues, I take seriously our constitutional obligation to provide advice and consent to determine whether a President's judicial nominees truly merit a lifetime appointment. I realize a number of considerations are weighed not just by me but by each of us who serve here when making a decision that is as important as this one is for our Nation. Before coming to the Senate, I was privileged to have served as Governor of Delaware, and in that role I nominated, over the course of 8 years, dozens, maybe scores, of men and women to serve as judges in our State courts. The qualities I sought then in judicial nominees included unimpeachable integrity, a keen intellect, a thorough understanding of the law, sound judicial temperament, a willingness to listen and to consider both sides of an argument, and a strong work ethic.…”