Political Quotes

“Madam President, this is the second time since I have become a U.S. Senator that I have been asked to provide the President advice and consent on a Supreme Court nominee. Last year, almost to the day, I spoke on the Senate floor on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be on the Supreme Court. So I come to the floor today to speak on the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan. During the debate in the Senate on Judge Sotomayor's nomination, I laid out the three criteria I use in evaluating an individual to fulfill the responsibilities of filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court. First, of course, we want to select the best candidate. Second, the Justice must be impartial and allow the facts and the Constitution to speak. And, third, a Justice has a responsibility to apply the law, not to write the law. Those are the criteria I have used in evaluating Elena Kagan's nomination. I met with Solicitor General Kagan following her appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She is personable and she is bright. Her career as an attorney has been exceptional. Although she has limited trial experience, she does understand the important role the judiciary plays in America. It is the second criteria that causes me concern: Solicitor General Kagan's ability to remain impartial. In particular, her actions and judgment as dean of the Harvard Law School as it related to military recruitment is, to me, a serious problem.…”