Orrin Hatch: “That is right, in the history of the Senate. Absolutely, Will was right, because that same commentary was pointed out by…”

“That is right, in the history of the Senate. Absolutely, Will was right, because that same commentary was pointed out by Alexander Hamilton. He wrote in Federalist Paper 76 the Senate's role is to refuse nominations only for ``special and strong reasons'' having to do with ``unfit characters.'' That is not what our Democratic colleagues are doing. What they are doing here is denying up-and-down votes to very qualified people, who by their own gold standard, the American Bar Association, are proven to be qualified. I believe it is abysmal that has happened. I think Senators have pointed out here this evening this is a very important debate that has to occur. The American people need to know a militant minority, 45 Democrats, basically, is thwarting the will of the majority and taking away the dignity of an up-and-down vote to qualified judicial nominees by this President, which has never happened, once they hit the floor, which has never happened before. In the Clinton years, all 377 judges were confirmed--only one was rejected, but he got an up-and-down vote, which is more than our people are getting.”