Orrin Hatch

President Obama called the Citizens United decision, 'a victory for powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.'

It is unfortunately true that almost any meaningful campaign finance reform proposal raises constitutional issues.

Tell that to Blanch Lincoln how incumbents are protected.

What the Congress had found was that these corporations and unions had a kind of access to Congressmen, had a kind of influence over Congressmen that changed outcomes, that was a corrupting influence on Congress.

I intend to be. And you know that after 34 years.

There is no doubt in my mind that you are a liberal person.

It is OK to be liberal. It is OK to be conservative.

Today is a sad day with the passing of our great colleague Senator Robert Byrd this morning.

As America's founders designed it, the Senate's role of advice and consent is a check on the President's power to appoint.

We are talking about one of the most important positions in the world, one of nine, in the greatest court in the world.

I know you have all sincerely given us the best you can.

As a Senator I have to say that this is the--after sending troops in harms way which is always the toughest decision for a Senator to make, how we vote on Supreme Court nominees is clearly the most important thing we have to do.

So that's judicial restraint.

This is a particularly difficult thing for a lot of us, because you cannot help but like Elena Kagan.

General Kagan told us yesterday that she characterized ACOG's original no circumstances language as a disaster, because it did not accurately reflect ACOG's own medical position.

I personally think that's wrong. And I think you've made a fairly decent case here today that it is wrong.

That's my point. I mean, I agree with you on that.

I'll always argue on the part of the First Amendment if I can.

I think they should have overruled Austin.

It's even beyond that.

I do not see how anyone can justify a citation to actions outside the country as any authority whatsoever to define what Americans have done.

Americans believe that you only govern with the consent of the governed and we have not consented to be governed by Europe or any other advanced nation.

I am worried about the idea of legal progressivism. I think that's a pernicious philosophy.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I appreciate it.

The President, I think as Senator McCain said is a legal progressive.