Thomas Daschle: “That is exactly what this is about. I thank the Senator for asking the question. It is no more complicated than that. On…”

“That is exactly what this is about. I thank the Senator for asking the question. It is no more complicated than that. On a bipartisan basis, Republican and Democrat Senators have said we need the best information that can be provided by any nominee before we are called upon to fulfill our constitutional obligation. That is what we are suggesting. We need that information to make the best judgment. That information is being withheld. If I had an applicant for a job in my office and I said, I want you to fill out this application and I will be happy to consider your qualifications for employment in my office, and he or she said, I don't think I will fill out the second and third page, I will give you the front page, I will give you the name, address, and maybe my employment history, but that is it, you have to make a guess as to the rest of my qualifications because I am not telling you, I would say to that prospective employee, come back when you can fill out the full application. That is what I would say. That is what every employer in this country would say. Remarkably, when I went home last week and explained the issue to my constituents, they said: That sounds fair. That sounds reasonable. If an applicant for a lifetime position on the second highest court of the land is not willing to fill out his job application, how in the world should we consider that nominee as a bona fide applicant for the position in the first place?”