Barbara Mikulski: “I come today in strong support of Elena Kagan. I am of the generation when a woman on the Court was going to be viewed…”

“I come today in strong support of Elena Kagan. I am of the generation when a woman on the Court was going to be viewed as a novelty. I remember very well when Ronald Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Connor and the world and the United States of America was abuzz: Wow, a woman is going to go on the Court. She went to the Court, and I think history, legal scholars, and the American people think she did a great job. Then came Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and now Kagan. We are at the point now where women are being taken seriously--they are being put forth for high positions in government--and are no longer viewed as a novelty. We never wanted to be novelties. We want to do the job we are either elected to do or we are being recommended to do.”