Eric Holder Approved By Senate Committee

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans, who acted like lions in challenging Eric Holder, turned into lambs Wednesday as they joined Democrats in recommending President Barack Obama's choice for attorney general.

The Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 to endorse Holder, with two Republicans opposing the nomination _ John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. The Senate could vote as early as Thursday to confirm Holder as the first African-American to lead the Justice Department.

Committee Republicans and Democrats described Holder as experienced, independent, tough on crime and opposed to torture. Holder has served as a federal prosecutor, judge, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and deputy attorney general in Bill Clinton's presidency. Senators also said the nominee was an individual willing to acknowledge his mistakes.

"He made some big mistakes when he should have really dug his heels in," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who spoke of Holder's "extraordinary experience." "He indicated he understands that error."

At issue for Republicans was Holder's role in Clinton's last-minute pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, whose wife was a major Democratic donor. Senators asked Holder why he backed pardoning Rich and questioned his recommendation to commute the sentences of Puerto Rican nationalists who belonged to a group that carried out murders, robberies and bombings. Holder acknowledged his mistake in the Rich case, but defended his decision in the case of the nationalists, saying they did not commit the violent acts.

Cornyn criticized Holder's role in the pardons and questioned whether he would protect intelligence agents who participated in harsh interrogations of captured terrorists. Coburn has questioned whether Holder would support an individual's right to keep and bear arms.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the committee chairman, said it would be "Alice in Wonderland" for Holder to make a blanket promise not to prosecute U.S. agents who participated in harsh interrogations. Leahy said he would vote against a nominee who made such a promise without even examining the circumstances.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he supports Holder's view that the country needs to interrogate terrorism suspects based on American values.

"I am confident this new attorney general will have a balanced approach and I look forward to working with him. I know he's made mistakes and so have I," Graham said.

In support of the nomination, Democrats provided endorsement letters from law enforcement organizations, civil rights leaders, victims' rights advocates and former Republican officials _ a number that reached 130.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said that with Holder as attorney general, "Waterboarding is history. Guantanamo Bay is history." Holder told his confirmation hearing that waterboarding, which simulates drowning, is torture.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Holder would be independent. "Would he sit in the Oval Office and say, 'Mr. President, with all due respect you're wrong?' I think he would."

Comments

[TheAnti-Bush]

And now he must do his duty under the oath he swore . Waterboarding is torture. Torture is a crime. The Bush admin must ALL be held accountible for their crimes. He must tell the Pres. there can be no other option but to investigate and prosecute if a crime has been committed. No one is above the law, not Bush, not Cheney, not Rummy, not Gonzo---NOBODY.

[ProgressiveThought]

We need to donate against the obstructionist bastards. Even in red states if a moderate Republican runs we need to vote these dopes out of office.

[J-RO]

let the games, er trials begin!

[Deidroni]

After eight long years, justice will see the light of day.

[dbdzen]

I wrote on this subject over the past few weeks absolutely sure that Holder would be confirmed by most Republicans in the committee. I've even made some money on the bet that Jeff Sessions and Specter would vote to confirm Holder.

The Israeli Prime Minister personally lobbied Clinton to pardon Marc Rich because he was a Mossad informer. Rich would have been pardoned no matter what Holder's recommendation turned out to be. Holder made a mechanical mistake on January 19th 2001, not an ethical one.

I'll make another prediction, if Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns and decides to run for Governor of Texas, the Democratic Mayor of Houston, Bill White, will run for US Senate and beat his Republican opponent. John Conryn will likely have a Democratic colleague in the Senate from Texas in January 2011.

[maxfax]

Smile Rush, the GOP is learning their place.

LOL

[CaptainVideo]

"Clinton's last-minute pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, whose wife was a major Democratic donor."

The reason that Marc Rich was pardoned and that Holder recommended it was because the Israeli govenment was pushing for Rich's pardon because Rich was a Mossad asset. Clinton wanted the Israeli government to make a final effort at peace negotiations with the PLO and pardoning Rich was an incentive to get them to do that.

[maddijane]

BRAVO! Eric Holder confirmed! At last, the Repubs decided to stop doing their depressing little
"we have no power, now what do we do" dance. Time to grow up, Repubs and get down to REAL WORK in a REAL BIPARTISAN WAY instead of typical obfuscations. After all, guys, you've had many, many years and look what havoc you've created. Go back to the drawing board. Face it. Trickle down has trickled and been found wanting! Find new ways that make sense to the MAJORITY of the American people. The RIGHT is now WRONG!

[nirek]

The right is ineffective !
Go Obama !!

[edwarvir]

Best news I have heard all
day.

[ctuck622]

Maybe now [e-mail] and [e-mail] will respond to e-mails demanding Federal investigation into the deplorable corruption in Florida no one in Federal government seems to want to address.

[kittykali]

go get 'em, mr. holder....­..

[Maxbyte]

I've just about concluded that Texas does not many people it can safely send to Washington, speaking of 'John Cornyn of Texas', e.g., the Tom DeLays of that State.

Cornyn needs to get smart. If his name continues to be associated with Republican intransigence, he's going to end up outside the Senate looking in.

[cariintexas]

He ran ads in the primaries saying we all need to work together in a bi-partisan fashion. Well Big John we've seen your willingness. Obstruction.

[carl99e]

I am looking for a pole that asks the American people what they would like to see. Indictments and trials would certainly be uplifting given the gloom of the economy. Letting someone, anyone, get away with torture and murder is something American will surely regret.

[magibrotherhood]

BRAVO Carl99e. This American Peep is proud to stand with you!!!!!!

[MIVOTE]

8-)

[PippiLongstocking]

Eric Holder could get it...

[Seven7s]

LOL...Hope­fully he does something about police agencies that protect criminal officers. Probably wont though.

[qdog112]

I sure would like to see what he can get. I might want some too, uh Pip.