Political Quotes

“last month, President-elect Obama designated Eric Holder to be the next Attorney General of the United States. When President-elect Obama made this choice, there was virtual universal praise from both sides of the aisle. Republican Orrin Hatch of Utah, the former chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Eric Holder was ``an excellent choice,'' in his words, and that ``I intend to support him.'' My colleague, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, said, ``I think his instincts on law and order are good'' and that he was ``disposed to support'' Eric Holder. Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma said: ``I think it's a good choice.'' It is not hard to see why the initial response to Eric Holder's selection was so positive. After all, Mr. Holder had been confirmed unanimously by the Senate in 1997 for the position of Deputy Attorney General. As the No. 2 person at the Justice Department, Mr. Holder supported broadening the authority of independent counsel Ken Starr, a difficult decision that was criticized by many Democrats. Mr. Starr's investigation led to the impeachment of President Clinton. And Mr. Holder recommended the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, a member of President Clinton's Cabinet. Earlier in his career, Eric Holder had been appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as a judge. He was later appointed by President Clinton to be the U.S. attorney in Washington, DC.”