(CNN) - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor Wednesday to blast Democrats for setting a start date on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing.
"Senator Leahy's decision to rush Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearing is indeed puzzling," McConnell said. "It risks resulting in a less informed hearing, and it breaks with years of tradition in which bipartisan agreements were reached and honored over the scheduling of hearings for Supreme Court nominees. And it damages the cordiality and goodwill the Senate relies on to do its business."
Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, announced Tuesday the hearings for Sotomayor would begin on July 13 - a date that was determined, according to the GOP, without consulting Sen. Jeff Sessions - the committee's ranking Republican.
"They want the shortest confirmation timeline in recent memory for someone with the longest record in recent memory," McConnell said. "This violates basic standards of fairness and it prevents senators from carrying out one of their most solemn duties, a thorough review of the president's nominee to a lifetime position on the highest court in the land."
From CNN Politics
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Maybe they should just get busy and stop wasting time complaining!!!
Awwwww.....the Republican's aren't done race baiting "That Hispanic lady"? The GOP aka American Taliban need to pace themselves. There will be plenty more Hispanics rising to higher positions in our government for you to freak out about, don't worry.
No kidding. Could it be because they knew that he would just try to obstruct any date that might be in the near future just like the Republican party are obstructionist to everything the Democrats might ever try to do? Hmm... I wonder. YES! Every time a Republican opens their mouth, all I see is negativity, hatred, and divisiveness. They are completely incapable of working with anyone else on anything unless that other person is willing to give them everything the Republicans want without question.
How about that Joe Biden and his comment about Sotomayer and the cops having her back. Had this been a Republican saying something that stupid, CNN and the leftist media would have been all over like flies on you know what.
Will be 48 days. The norm is around 45 days.
Republican Congressmen obstructing and lying again.
Shocker!!
Why prolong the "Agony of Defeat".
Had the G.O.P. waited a "Longer Standard" in their quest of the Iraq Invasion, they may still be in Power and 4800 Dead G.I's may still be enjoying "Life" with their families.
McConnell, put that in your Pipe .
Another democrat "TARP" bill like operation. Get her in before they figure her out (wink)
That or it conflicts with his month long 4th of July vacation. Hey McConnell just show up to work like everyone else does that still has a job after your party messed up everything.
Is idiocy a prerequesite to be a liberal? If this blog is any indication, then I'd say 'yes'.
As democrats continue to overreach and throw their weight around they are beginning their sure path to self-destruction just like the GOP did...happens to all no one is immune.
I remember when the Democrats were not allowed a room in which to hold hearings! Get over it.
Good God Almighty, this is breathtaking. What an asinine complaint. Yet another relentlessly negative, petty, bickering Republican bent on throwing monkey wrenches into the work and keep us from making forward progress. Hopefully he'll be one of the next round to be voted out of office. Unbelievable.
I'm a Democrat, I support this nominee, and I (like most people) believe she will be confirmed. However, I am inclined to agree with Senator McConnell on this one, at least a little bit. A rushed process without bipartisan support only serves to harm the credibility of the entire process. When President Bush's nominees had their hearings, I was glad the process was given it's due time (even if I was less than thrilled with the outcome). All our Senators should have fair and ample time to prepare for these hearings and hold them, without being rushed too fast. Perhaps the date should be reconsidered?
I find the comments being posted here about "Obama and the Democrats are trying to CRAM all of this down America's throat" and "they just pushing their agenda through without giving Republicans a chance to READ everything" absolutely crazy when you consider that the other thing the 21% (or is it even lower now) complain about is that "Obama isn't DOING ANYTHING"!!!!!!
Uuuuuuhhhhhh . . . . which one is it 21%?????????
McConnell needs to practice what he is preaching concerning fairness/bipartisanism.
The GOP needs to prolong this process for as long as they can because it gives them something to complain about because ever thing else they are complaining about is falling on deaf ears by most Americans save the far right of the GOP.
McConnell is another of the GOP talking heads that is bring the party down.
The Senate Democrats have published a handy "How-To" guide for Republican Judiciary Committee members to show them how they can walk and chew gum at the same time in reponse to their whining about the date for the beginning of the Sotomayor hearings.
Could we please stoping whinning just to whine? Seriously, this is getting very old, very quickly. Hello? The judge she is set to replace is leaving very soon and needs that spot filled. This is why they are scheduled a little more than a month from now. Honestly, we've been talking about her for a little more than a month and Republicans have been pop-shot'ing her since...I'd say two month's time is more-than-enough to get your stuff in a row and conduct the hearings. Suck it up.
I wish everyone would stop being so childish on these blogs. You all sound like a bunch of 8 year olds running around a playground. The fact of the matter is, if we don't learn to work together, America will see it's downfall right before her eyes. I bet half of you are over 35 years old posting on these blogs. funny it takes a 24 year old to remind you to be mature. We all know what we want. Set the bi-partisanship aside and do whats best for this country. Get rid of earmarks, finish up these wars so our Men and Women can come home, (currently a deployed U.S. Marine Oorah) and fix the national debt and protect our citizens. Come together now or fall apart forever. Semper Fidelis
Perhaps Republican wants more tha a year or two to review records-review the recors for what? Any thing democrats say,they have questions or serious comment. Perhaps they should delligate the review to Cantor-he will have a job for his life the way his puny head works.
When the rethuglicans had control of congress, their mantra was "Dems, quit your whining and follow along with what we tell you to do." So now the shoe is on the other foot – too bad, so sad for the rethuglican. So, QUIT YOUR WHINING -it make you look even worse than you are.
The dems like setting new standards for government.., especially bad ones. But hey go ahead, what goes around comes around..
Over a month and a half to do their homework isn't enough? Losers.
Now you see why I switched parties in the last election. Nothing in the Republican Party for me any more. I agree with A. Goodwin. GROW UP!
What's the big deal about starting the confirmation hearings on July 13? Sotomayor's record is public; the senators have reserach staff to do the leg work. I would think it better to have the process completed as early as possible. Again, Republicans are being negative and obstructionist.
Typical Republican stubborn resistance against anything that isn't Republican mandated! That political party is really a pain to the rest of the country! It's NO on anything and everything! They are so infuriating and predictable! It's no wonder that they got thrown out of office last year!