Obamanation in the works...Holder confirmation going to the Senate - The Firearms Forum

bcj1755 · 01-28-2009, 11:51 AM

Senate panel OKs Holder as attorney general

By Randall Mikkelsen Randall Mikkelsen – 41 mins ago

Former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, President-elect Barack Obama's Reuters – Former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, President-elect Barack Obama's nominee to be Attorney General, …

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Senate committee voted to approve Eric Holder to be the first black attorney general, sending his nomination on Wednesday to the full Senate, which is expected to confirm him.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 to confirm President Barack Obama's nomination of Holder, a deputy attorney general under former President Bill Clinton. Holder had faced questions over his record, including his support for controversial pardons issued by Clinton, and Republicans had delayed the vote for a week until Wednesday.

"Eric Holder is a good man. He's a decent man. He's a public servant committed to the rule of law and he will be a good attorney general," committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said before the vote.

He said he regretted that "the committee may have stumbled a bit" in delaying the vote.

Holder will play a lead role in the Obama administration's plans to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, which has become an international symbol for U.S. prisoner abuses in the fight against terrorism. He said in his Senate confirmation hearing on January 15 that it would take longer to devise a replacement system that some have hoped.

Two of the committee's eight Republicans voted against Holder. One of them, John Cornyn of Texas, said he had doubts about Holder's judgment, independence, and views on fighting terrorism.

However, the committee's ranking Republican, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, supported Holder's nomination despite expressing earlier concerns.

Holder broke with the Bush administration in his hearings to call the waterboarding interrogation technique "torture." He pledged to protect civil rights and adhere to the Constitution even while fighting terrorism "with every available tool."

He vowed to vigorously fight financial crime and enforce antitrust laws.

Holder also addressed a major criticism by Republicans and acknowledged erring when he supported an 11th-hour pardon by Clinton in 2001 for a fugitive financier, Marc Rich.

"I think it was important that Mr. Holder was willing to admit candidly to his mistake," Specter said.

Cornyn, outlining his opposition, said, "Mr. Holder's actions as deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration demonstrate that he should not be confirmed."

Leahy, looking to the full Senate vote, said, "there is no question in my mind that he will be confirmed."

Holder said in his confirmation hearing the Justice Department "must wage an aggressive effort against financial fraud and market manipulation." The collapse of credit markets has triggered widespread criminal fraud investigations of companies and individuals.

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090128/...a_obama_holder

Lori Mick · 01-28-2009, 02:15 PM

We are screwed!

01-28-2009, 11:51 AM	#1
bcj1755 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: A wretched hive of scum and villiany Posts: 4,357	Obamanation in the works...Holder confirmation going to the Senate Senate panel OKs Holder as attorney general By Randall Mikkelsen Randall Mikkelsen – 41 mins ago Former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, President-elect Barack Obama's Reuters – Former Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, President-elect Barack Obama's nominee to be Attorney General, … WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Senate committee voted to approve Eric Holder to be the first black attorney general, sending his nomination on Wednesday to the full Senate, which is expected to confirm him. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-2 to confirm President Barack Obama's nomination of Holder, a deputy attorney general under former President Bill Clinton. Holder had faced questions over his record, including his support for controversial pardons issued by Clinton, and Republicans had delayed the vote for a week until Wednesday. "Eric Holder is a good man. He's a decent man. He's a public servant committed to the rule of law and he will be a good attorney general," committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, said before the vote. He said he regretted that "the committee may have stumbled a bit" in delaying the vote. Holder will play a lead role in the Obama administration's plans to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, which has become an international symbol for U.S. prisoner abuses in the fight against terrorism. He said in his Senate confirmation hearing on January 15 that it would take longer to devise a replacement system that some have hoped. Two of the committee's eight Republicans voted against Holder. One of them, John Cornyn of Texas, said he had doubts about Holder's judgment, independence, and views on fighting terrorism. However, the committee's ranking Republican, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, supported Holder's nomination despite expressing earlier concerns. Holder broke with the Bush administration in his hearings to call the waterboarding interrogation technique "torture." He pledged to protect civil rights and adhere to the Constitution even while fighting terrorism "with every available tool." He vowed to vigorously fight financial crime and enforce antitrust laws. Holder also addressed a major criticism by Republicans and acknowledged erring when he supported an 11th-hour pardon by Clinton in 2001 for a fugitive financier, Marc Rich. "I think it was important that Mr. Holder was willing to admit candidly to his mistake," Specter said. Cornyn, outlining his opposition, said, "Mr. Holder's actions as deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration demonstrate that he should not be confirmed." Leahy, looking to the full Senate vote, said, "there is no question in my mind that he will be confirmed." Holder said in his confirmation hearing the Justice Department "must wage an aggressive effort against financial fraud and market manipulation." The collapse of credit markets has triggered widespread criminal fraud investigations of companies and individuals. (Editing by Eric Walsh) http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090128/...a_obama_holder __________________ History is much like an endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace, and revolution continue on forever. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - Cicero If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. - Samuel Adams -->

01-28-2009, 02:15 PM	#2
Lori Mick Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Stuck in Upstate NY for a while Posts: 2,374	Re: Obamanation in the works...Holder confirmation going to the Senate We are screwed! __________________ It's a Brand New Day! Make it an awesome one! "No one outside myself can rule me inwardly. Knowing this I become wholly free."