Tom Feeney: “It is not just the fact that Miguel Estrada, if the critics have their way, will be denied the opportunity to be the…”

“It is not just the fact that Miguel Estrada, if the critics have their way, will be denied the opportunity to be the first Hispanic ever to serve on that great court but it is the way it is happening. There have been several committee hearings. Normally judges at this level receive at most one or two committee hearings. They have had many more than that. But with respect to the problem and the issues they have had, they have been unable to identify any sin that this man is guilty of, either philosophically, with respect to his integrity, his background, his impeccable qualifications. And so what they have engaged in, the critics of this great man, is a whispering campaign. And they are trying, not to vote down the nominee, what they are suggesting, these critics, is that we will not have a vote at all. And after all, if the real reason you are sabotaging the opportunity for Miguel Estrada to go to the bench is not something you will admit in public, then do not have a vote. If it is something that you are willing to stand up with honor and respect in debate in a free forum in front of the entire world, then go into debate and have that vote. That is the democratic process.”