Russ Feingold: “If I could I wish to make one comment about the issue the Senator raised about Admiral McConnell. The last time we…”

“If I could I wish to make one comment about the issue the Senator raised about Admiral McConnell. The last time we checked, there are 100 Senators elected to enact public policy. The notion that somebody who was confirmed by the Senate to execute these policies is a person who should be able to veto what we do here on the basis that he has a distinguished background is somewhat questionable. That discounts the qualities of every Member of this body, that discounts the qualities of every hard-working staff member who knows the law and has good ideas about what this public policy should be. I voted for Admiral McConnell. I respect him. The day we start deferring to someone who is not an elected Member of this body, or hiding behind him when you do not have the arguments to justify your position is a sad day for the Senate. We make the policy, not the executive branch.”