Mark Dayton: “We were elected to take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution, defend the Constitution from enemies, foreign and…”

“We were elected to take an oath of office to uphold the Constitution, defend the Constitution from enemies, foreign and domestic. That is the oath each member takes very seriously. It is an oath that puts on each of our shoulders the responsibility to decide what that means. Our distinguished Senator from West Virginia, Robert Byrd, presented me with a Constitution when I arrived here. I have learned a great deal about this document, about what it says and means. I have learned about the intentions of the Founders of the country. This document is the gospel which each member is required to follow. It says the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate--it does not say that the Senate shall approve or how the Senate shall consider. It says the Senate will be an equal partner with the President. The President will make a nomination, and it is for the Senate to decide, 100 Senators to decide, according to their own values and according to their own background experience and according to whatever they want to bring to bear on that matter how they will decide.”