Political Quotes

“I rise today to speak briefly on the upcoming hearings the Judiciary Committee will hold on President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to be a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. I am not a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and I do not envy the difficult task before the committee members. However, I would like to highlight a few things I will be watching, as a Member of this body with the constitutional duty to advise and consent, and listening for as Ms. Kagan's nomination hearings begin on Monday. First and foremost, I will be listening for indications on how closely Ms. Kagan will adhere to the Constitution and the laws of our Nation as written. The judicial oath requires judges to apply the law impartially to the facts before them--without respect to their social, moral, or political views. Although Ms. Kagan certainly has an impressive resume in academia and as a political adviser in the Clinton and Obama administrations, she lacks key courtroom experience as either a judge or as a private lawyer. Therefore, it is appropriate and vitally important that members of the committee perform their due diligence to question her judicial philosophy.”