Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. President, for the recognition, and I just want to say to Senator Feinstein that this Senator has listened to many of her remarks and very much agrees with what she said, which is that we should be doing our job in terms of this Supreme Court nominee. It is our job to advise and consent. The Constitution says we shall advise and consent when we get nominations. Ten years ago the Senate faced a critical task: to consider the nomination by President Bush of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. It was a fierce debate. Many opposed him, and some passionately so. I will not argue that it was an easy road, but it was a road that was traveled because that is our job and that is one of our most important duties. At the time, the current majority leader was very clear on that duty the Senate has. He said: We stand today on the brink of a new and reckless effort by a few to deny the rights of many to exercise our constitutional duty to advise and consent, to give this man the simple up-or-down vote he deserves. The Senate should repudiate this tactic. Justice Alito did get an up-or-down vote and was confirmed 58 to 42, including four Democrats who voted in favor. The majority leader was right. We do have a duty to advise and consent, and the Constitution indeed uses the word ``shall'' advise and consent. A President's nominee does deserve an up-or-down vote. That was true then, and it true now.…”