Posted on 05/15/2005 2:29:08 PM PDT by RWR8189
Contact: Tracey Schmitt
202-863-8614
WASHINGTON – RNC Communications Director Brian Jones today issued the following statement on Sen. Ted Kennedy’s obstructionist comments today on Face the Nation:
“Sen. Ted Kennedy’s hypocritical and obstructionist comments this morning are more evidence Democrats would rather launch partisan political attacks than confront the issues facing our nation. Sen. Kennedy's statements contradict his previous support for abolishing the filibuster altogether and solidified his status as a leader of the ‘Party of No.’ False attacks and hypocritical statements will do nothing to ensure highly qualified judicial nominees receive the up or down vote they deserve and the up or down vote they have been granted for the past 214 years.”
SEN. TED KENNEDY’S (D-MA) HYPOCRISY ON JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
In 1995, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) Supported Abolishing The Filibuster, But Now Advocates The Use Of The Filibuster To Block Judicial Nominees:
In 1995, Democrats (Bingaman, Boxer, Feingold, Harkin, Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg, Lieberman, And Sarbanes) Wanted To End The Legislative Filibuster. In 1995, the only Senators on record supporting the end of the legislative filibuster were all Democrats, nine of whom are still serving in the Senate. (Karen Hosler, “Senators Vote 76-19 To Maintain Filibuster,” The [Baltimore] Sun, 1/6/95; S.Res. 14, CQ Vote #1: Motion Agreed To 76-19: R 53-0; D 23-19, 1/5/95, Bingaman, Boxer, Feingold, Harkin, Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg, Lieberman, and Sarbanes Voted Nay)
The Harkin-Lieberman Proposal Would Have Amended The Senate Rules To Allow A Simple Majority To Overcome “Any” Filibuster, Legislative Or Executive. (Karen Hosler, “Senators Vote 76-19 To Maintain Filibuster,” The [Baltimore] Sun, 1/6/95; S. Amdt. 1, Motion To Table Agreed To, 1/5/95)
Sen. Kennedy Flip-Flops On Giving Nominations An Up-Or-Down Vote:
Kennedy Then …
In 1998, Sen. Ted Kennedy Said: “We Owe It To Americans Across The Country To Give These Nominees A Vote. If Our Republican Colleagues Don’t Like Them, Vote Against Them. But Give Them A Vote.” (Sen. Edward Kennedy, Congressional Record, 2/3/98, p. S295)
In 1998, Kennedy Contended: “The President And The Senate Do Not Always Agree. But We Should Resolve These Disagreements By Voting On These Nominees – Yes Or No.” (David Reinhard, “Judge Not Lest Yer Be . . . Filibustered,” The Oregonian, 3/17/05)
In 2000, Kennedy Said: “The Chief Justice Of The United States Supreme Court Said: ‘The Senate Is Surely Under No Obligation To Confirm Any Particular Nominee, But After The Necessary Time For Inquiry It Should Vote Him Up Or Vote Him Down.’ Which Is Exactly What I Would Like.” (Sen. Edward Kennedy, Congressional Record, 3/7/00)
Kennedy Now …
In The 108th Congress Kennedy Either Voted Against Cloture Or Did Not Vote On Judicial Nominees Twenty Times. (CQ Vote #40: Motion Rejected 55-44: R 51-0; D 4-43; I 0-1, 3/6/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #53: Motion Rejected 55-42: R 51-0; D 4-41; I 0-1, 3/13/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #56: Motion Rejected 55-45: R 51-0; D 4-44; I 0-1, 3/18/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #114: Motion Rejected 55-44: R 51-0; D 4-43; I 0-1, 4/2/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #137: Motion Rejected 52-44: R 50-0; D 2-43; I 0-1, 5/1/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #140: Motion Rejected 52-39: R 49-0; D 3-38; I 0-1, 5/5/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #143: Motion Rejected 54-43: R 50-0; D 4-42; I 0-1, 5/8/03, Kennedy Did Not Vote; CQ Vote #144: Motion Rejected 52-45: R 50-0; D 2-44; I 0-1, 5/8/03, Kennedy Did Not Vote; CQ Vote #308: Motion Rejected 53-43: R 51-0; D 2-42; I 0-1, 7/29/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #312: Motion Rejected 55-43: R 51-0; D 4-42; I 0-1, 7/30/03, Kennedy Did Not Vote; CQ Vote #316: Motion Rejected 53-44: R 51-0; D 2-44; I 0-0, 7/31/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #419: Motion Rejected 54-43: R 51-0; D 2-43; I 1-0, 10/30/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #441: Motion Rejected 51-43: R 49-0; D 2-42; I 0-1, 11/6/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #450: Motion Rejected 53-42: R 51-0; D 2-41; I 0-1, 11/14/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #451: Motion Rejected 53-43: R 51-0; D 2-42; I 0-1, 11/14/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #452: Motion Rejected 53-43: R 51-0; D 2-42; I 0-1, 11/14/03, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #158: Motion Rejected 53-44: R 51-0; D 2-43; I 0-1, 7/20/04, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #160: Motion Rejected 52-46: R 51-0; D 1-45; I 0-1, 7/22/04, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #161: Motion Rejected 54-44: R 51-0; D 3-43; I 0-1, 7/22/04, Kennedy Voted Nay; CQ Vote #162: Motion Rejected 53-44: R 50-0; D 3-43; I 0-1, 7/22/04, Kennedy Voted Nay)
"Fat-assed bastard murderer lying obstructionist hypocrite."
Why and when were the rules changed after 214 years of the Senate exercising "advise and consent" for judicial nominees according to the Constitution and who voted to change it?
Easy guys....there's plenty of room to criticize Teddy boy instead of resorting to profanity.
All right, I'll edit out the "fat-a....". Thanks for the caution.
later read
You did hear it right. I heard the same thing and couldn't believe my ears!
Does he actually listen to what he says? I think he talks just to hear himself speak.
Or, if you want to be obtuse, just call Teddy "Captain of the SS Oldsmobile"...
Massachusetts hangs its head in shame.
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