Obama Blames Lynch Obstruction On GOP 'Stubbornness,' Not Racism

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

President Barack Obama blamed Republicans' ‘stubbornness’ and ‘Senate dysfunction’ as the chief causes behind holding up the nomination of Loretta Lynch for attorney general. He refrained from saying the obstruction was motivated by the fact that Lynch is African American, as some Democrats have argued.

In an interview with The Huffington Post on Friday, Obama said “I don’t know about that” responding to the idea that Lynch’s race is what’s pushing Republicans to refuse to confirm Lynch as attorney general. Instead, Obama said, Republicans are holding the nomination “hostage.”

“You don’t hold attorney general nominees hostage for other issues,” Obama said in the interview. “This is our top law enforcement office. Nobody denies that she’s well-qualified. We need to go ahead and get her done.”

Lynch’s nomination has been held up for over one hundred days. Earlier in the week Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that there wouldn’t be a vote on Lynch’s nomination until the Senate passed a human trafficking bill, which includes anti-abortion legislation Democrats oppose.

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Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obama-loretta-lynch-gop-stubborn

[ananda]

1. I think there might be a race component.

That she is Black probably plays well to the base
and might be considered an inherent weakness
to a bully Reep Congress.

But it's hard to know for sure because the only
litmus test would be seeing what they would do
if Obama had nominated a white male.

[louis-t]

2. I think racism only adds to their stubbornness.

They would obstruct any nominee, regardless of race or gender. That's how the assholes roll.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. It's a Toofer.

First, they get to play to their racist base;
and second, they get to fuck with Obama & hold up legislation once again.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Of course he can't come out and say it

The entire RW-owned M$M would have a field day. Any time he has mentioned race, they have gone batshit crazy leaving him out hanging out there with no support as many liberals slink away at the assault. That's what you use "surrogates" for.

[Zorro]

5. I'd say it's just their general assholery

[Unvanguard]

6. I don't think it's racism.

Not because I doubt that racism infests the Republican Party, but just because it doesn't seem like the Republicans have a specific objection to Lynch so much as (just as Obama says) they're using her to try to get leverage on other issues.

Much of the hostility to Holder, on the other hand, is clearly racist, and once Lynch is in office for a while, we might see the same thing develop.