Harry Reid: “a number on the other side, in the majority, have lamented the fact that to get this man, Miguel Estrada, approved to be…”

“a number on the other side, in the majority, have lamented the fact that to get this man, Miguel Estrada, approved to be a circuit judge, it is going to take 60 votes. They ask, why can't we just have an up-or-down vote? ... I found my colleagues' remarks very curious, lamenting the idea that it would take 60 votes to approve Mr. Estrada's nomination. They have lamented this, but I find this interesting because when President Clinton sat in the White House, his nominations were subject to anonymous holds by one or more Senators. Many were not provided hearings. Many were provided no votes. That is, rather than needing at least 41 votes to delay or block consideration of a nominee, Republicans allowed one Senator or a handful to block many of President Clinton's judicial nominees from getting hearings or votes.”