Jim Inhofe: “It is true that I do have a hold on Mr. Hormel. To clarify what a hold is, it is a courtesy. It is not a procedural…”

“It is true that I do have a hold on Mr. Hormel. To clarify what a hold is, it is a courtesy. It is not a procedural matter. It is something that is a courtesy to the leader so he will know there is opposition. There very well may be a vote on this individual, but I will oppose his nomination, and I want to stand and tell you why. The statement that was made on the floor was made by the senior Senator from Minnesota, Mr. Wellstone. I will read excerpts of it: Now, one of my colleagues, and I think it is extremely unfortunate, one of my colleagues has compared Mr. Hormel, a highly qualified public servant and nominee, to Mr. David Duke, who, among other credentials, is a former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. He goes on to say: I want to say to my colleagues, that given this kind of statement made publicly by a United States Senator, this kind of character assassination, it is more important now than ever that this man, Mr. Hormel, be voted on.”