Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the Senate is returning to Washington after the Fourth of July holiday recess. The week before we left town, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, we held a hearing for President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan. The hearing lasted 4 days. The nominee responded to 695 questions. I wish to commend, in particular, the chairman of that committee, Senator Patrick Leahy, and the ranking member, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama. It was a fair and respectful hearing. Last year President Obama made history with his nomination of Sonia Sotomayor as the first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court. Elena Kagan is also an historic nominee. Last year she became our Nation's first female Solicitor General. That, of course, is the attorney representing the United States of America before the highest Court in our land, the Supreme Court. If she is confirmed to serve on the Supreme Court, it would make the first time in our Nation's history that three women have served together on the highest court in the land. That is clearly a mark of social progress in this great Nation. Elena Kagan, of course, will be replacing a legal legend, Justice John Paul Stevens. A lifetime in the law and the courage to speak his mind made Justice Stevens a national treasure. So what did we learn from this hearing on Elena Kagan? First, we learned she is a highly intelligent, very charming and very funny, at times, individual.…”