Political Quotes

“I am here to join my colleagues because I share the concerns they have expressed so eloquently about the failure of this body to act on the nominees whom they have been talking about. But the other nominees, particularly the 27 national security nominees who are pending on the floor of the Senate--these nominees are not being held up due to concerns about their qualifications or their experience. As my colleagues have said, they are being held up for political reasons--political reasons that are often wholly unrelated to the nominee, and in most cases they are being held up by just one Member of this body. I find it particularly ironic that, in many cases, they are being held up by a Member of this body who is out on the campaign trail, campaigning for President. He is not here dealing with the work of this country and not here fighting to address the national security of this country by making sure that we confirm these nominees. So I am disappointed that, once again, we see my colleague from Utah here on his behalf to object to our efforts to move forward with these unanimous consent requests for Tom Shannon, John Estrada, Azita Raji, and Samuel Heins. As Senator Cardin noted, I want to begin with Ambassador Shannon, because Ambassador Shannon would fill one of the most senior positions at the State Department as the Under Secretary for Political Affairs.…”