Equal Time: Clinton's Statement On Opposition To Mukasey

[babylonsister]

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=286284&&

October 30, 2007

Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Her Opposition to the Nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General of the United States

We need an Attorney General who has the strength to challenge this Administration when it is wrong, who is committed to reestablishing the independence of the Department of Justice and to restoring respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. I am deeply troubled by Judge Mukasey’s continued unwillingness to clearly state his views on torture and unchecked Executive power.

The Attorney General is the chief defender of the rule of law in our country. After Alberto Gonzales's troubled tenure, we cannot send a signal that the next Attorney General in any way condones torture or believes that the President is unconstrained by law. When we leave any doubt about our nation’s policy on torture, we send a terrible message to the rest of the world. Judge Mukasey has been given ample opportunity – both at his confirmation hearings and in his subsequent submission to the Judiciary Committee – to clarify his answers and categorically oppose the unacceptable interrogation techniques employed by this Administration. His failure to do so leaves me no choice but to oppose his nomination.

We need to restore the nation’s confidence in the Department of Justice. The Department must once again defend our Constitution and the rule of law without regard to ideology and partisanship. And we need to protect the country from terrorism while also respecting Americans’ civil liberties.


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[saracat]

1. Thank God for that.Its about time.Sounds like she will oppose him.

Good for her.

[jmp]

3. She had to check the windsock before ...

Deciding where to stand. ;)

[ronnykmarshall]

8. ...

:eyes:

She's damned if she does and damn if she doesn't.

[creeksneakers2]

11. I admire how you are giving Hillary credit even though

I know you disagree with her about many things.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Is Lindsay Graham Voting Against Him?

He was an Air Force JAG and specifically said waterboarding is torture....

DSB

[cuke]

4. k&r

[immoderate]

5. I'm glad to hear that.

I wonder what Shumer will do.

--IMM

[gateley]

6. I'm glad to hear that - thanks for posting this. nt

[Imagevision]

7. Is this one of those it makes no difference what Hillary votes, it's the thought/idea (?)

[Forkboy]

9. I'm very glad to be wrong on this one.

[gratuitous]

10. There! Was that really so very hard?

Mukasey's record and testimony "leave me no choice but to oppose his nomination." Damn, but how far have we strayed that we're actually debating the merits of torture?