Harry Reid: “The ABA, I cannot think of a better phrase than that they should be ashamed of themselves for what they have done. This…”

“The ABA, I cannot think of a better phrase than that they should be ashamed of themselves for what they have done. This is off the subject, but I will get back on the subject. I believe all Presidents, Democrat and Republican, have had trouble getting nominees--whether it is Cabinet officers, sub-Cabinet officers, members of the military, whether it is judges--trying to get them before the Senate because of the length of time the FBI investigations take and all the hoops people have to jump through now. I say let's eliminate the ABA from the judges. I don't know how many of my colleagues here agree, but I agree, and I will join with the Republicans anytime to get the ABA out of the process. My friend, the distinguished Senator from Idaho, voted against Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic female appointed to the circuit, and Judge Richard Paez confirmed to the Ninth Circuit after 1,520 days following his nomination. In fact, the distinguished senior Senator from Idaho not only voted against Judge Paez's confirmation, before that vote on March 9, 2000, but also voted on that day to indefinitely postpone the nomination of Richard Paez. I find it fascinating that someone who voted to indefinitely postpone a vote on Paez would now say that Estrada is entitled to an immediate vote on his nomination.”