Sessions: A Moderate On Judicial Nominees?
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the freshly minted ranking member on the judiciary committee surprised Neal Cavuto last night by saying he could easily see voting for a pro-choice Supreme Court nominee.
Neal, it is possible that some people would say well, he filibustered judge Alito, who was a great judge I thought, and he voted against fabulous John Roberts so we don't owe him any favors. But I think our real obligation is not to play tit-for-tat.... I don't believe in a litmus test. I think a judge can have a different view on abortion than I would have, and still receive my vote.
A Supreme Court judge is, of course, appointed for life. Executive branch appointees, by contrast, usually serve for a maximum of only eight years. But nonetheless, Sessions' reputedly more moderate Judiciary Committee colleague, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), said yesterday that he'd support a filibuster of Barack Obama's pick to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, Dawn Johnsen. \
Late update: Something I'd intended to mention above, but forgot. Notice on the board in the clip, Fox News doesn't seem to know how to spell "Sotomayor."
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
Why is this news? Isn't denying someone employment based on their sexual orientation illegal even if we are talking congress & SCOTUS?
How could he say anything else without opening himself up to a hefty lawsuit?
Of course the GOP doesn't think the law applies to them - and this is one of those damn liberal laws so doubly so for that.
May 7, 2009 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sessions is a racist low life. As far back as he is in 'Dixie,' he isn't changing. He is just trying to put up a smoke screen. He will be his same smarmy self wnen SCOTUS nominees are presented before the Senate Judicial Committee. I just hope Leahy and the rest have the balls to shove statements Sessions and the other Republicans made toward the minority on the committee when Bush selected nominees. The hypocrisy is underwhelming.
May 7, 2009 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Right. Because if Obama hadn't done those things I'm sure he'd get 100% support from the Republicans in the senate. {rolling my eyes}
May 7, 2009 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
The scary thing is that Sessions thinks "gay tendencies" means anything at all.
May 7, 2009 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink