Sheldon Whitehouse actually said...

"I think judges are very much continually educated and affected by the public decisionmaking process that they steward."

"judges must respect the role of Congress as representatives of the American people"

"The process that we go through traditionally involves the input of United States Senators to make recommendations to the President for these nominees."

"Thank you very much, Your Honor, and let me offer a general apology on behalf of the Senate as an institution to all of those who were inconvenienced by yesterday's activities."