Democrats Thought it was Improper to Filibuster Judicial Nominees

May 19, 2005 | FR Researchers

[Peach]

Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Delaware) March 19, 1997: “But I also respectfully suggest that everyone who is nominated is entitled to have a shot, to have a hearing and to have a shot to be heard on the floor and have a vote on the floor.”

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Illinois)September 28, 1998: “We should meet our responsibility. I think that responsibility requires us to act in a timely fashion on nominees sent before us. ... Vote the person up or down.”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) September 11, 1997: “Let’s bring their nominations up, debate them if necessary, and vote them up or down.”

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts)February 3, 1998: “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. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) May 10, 2000: “The Founding Fathers certainly intended that the Senate advise as to judicial nominations, i.e., consider, debate, and vote up or down. They surely did not intend that the Senate, for partisan or factional reasons, would remain silent and simply refuse to give any advice or consider and vote at all.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) 5/14/97 : “It is not the role of the Senate to obstruct the process and prevent numbers of highly qualified nominees from even being given the opportunity for a vote on the Senate floor.”

Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD): “I find it simply baffling that a Senator would vote against even voting on a judicial nomination.” (Congressional Record, 10/5/99)

Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD): “Hispanic or non-Hispanic, African American or non-African American, woman or man, it is wrong not to have a vote on the Senate floor.” (Congressional Record, 10/28/99)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND): “My expectation is that we’re not going to hold up judicial nominations. …You will not see us do what was done to us in recent years in the Senate with judicial nominations.” (Fox News’ “Special Report With Brit Hume,” 6/4/01)

Richard Durbin (D-IL) "If, after 150 days languishing on the Executive Calendar that name has not been called for a vote, it should be. Vote the person up or down." (Cong. Rec., 9/28/98, S11021)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): “Let’s bring their nominations up, debate them if necessary, and vote them up or down.” (Congressional Record, 9/11/97)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): “It is our job to confirm these judges. If we don’t like them, we can vote against them.” (Congressional Record, 9/16/99)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): “Our institutional integrity requires an up-or-down vote.” (Congressional Record, 10/4/99)

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA): “[The filibuster process] is used … as blackmail for one Senator to get his or her way on something that they could not rightfully win through the normal processes.” (Congressional Record, 1/4/95)

Tom Harkin (D-IA) "Have the guts to come out and vote up or down….And once and for all, put behind us this filibuster procedure on nominations." (Cong. Rec., 6/22/95, S8861)

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA): “I urge the Republican leadership to take the steps necessary to allow the full Senate to vote up or down on these important nominations.” (Congressional Record, 9/11/00)

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA): “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.” (Congressional Record, 2/3/98)

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA): “It is true that some Senators have voiced concerns about these nominations. But that should not prevent a roll call vote which gives every Senator the opportunity to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ ... Parties with cases, waiting to be heard by the federal courts deserve a decision by the Senate.” (Congressional Record, 9/21/99)

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI): “These nominees, who have to put their lives on hold waiting for us to act, deserve an ‘up or down’ vote.” (Congressional Record, 9/21/99)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT): “I hope we … will accept our responsibility and vote people up or vote them down. … If we want to vote against them, vote against them.” (Congressional Record, 10/22/97)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT): “Now, every Senator can vote against any nominee. … But it is the responsibility of the U.S. Senate to at least bring them to a vote.” (Congressional Record, 10/22/97)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT): “ "I have stated over and over again … that I would object and fight against any filibuster on a judge, whether it is somebody I opposed or supported …” (Congressional Record, 6/18/98)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT): “[E]arlier this year … I noted how improper it would be to filibuster a judicial nomination.” (Congressional Record, 10/14/98)

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT): “[I]f the person is otherwise qualified, he or she gets the vote. … Vote them up, vote them down.” (Congressional Record, 9/21/99)

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV): “[W]e should have up-or-down votes in the committee and on the floor.” (CNN’s “Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields,” 6/9/01)

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “[W]e are charged with voting on the nominees. The Constitution does not say if the Congress is controlled by a different party than the President there shall be no judges chosen.” (Congressional Record, 3/7/00)

Carl Levin (D-MI) "If a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate is prepared to vote to confirm the President's appointment, that vote should occur." (Cong. Rec., 6/21/95, S8806)

[edwinland]

Did you really do all this research yourself? It must have taken months. Or can you cite the source who compiled all this?

[newsgatherer]

Peach,

I would like to use this in tomorrows issue of Christian-news-in-maine.com would that be alright?

Thanks
Jake

[Constitution Day]

[cweese]

Great post! Thanks for compiling this list. Very similar to the list of dem. quotes regarding Iraq, made pre-2003.

[captnorb]

the sources are listed.

[Enterprise]

Well, knock me over with a feather. So are the Democrats still calling for an up or down vote on "everyone who is nominated?" (Hee hee hee)

[Pete]

Wow! Great list. Hopefully, NRO, Drudge or Rush picks up on it.

[js1138]

The sources are listed, but the researchers are anonymous. Someone should get som credit for this.

Not to mention it should be read by Rush.

[Peach]

I didn't do the research; other freepers did.

We should call the offending Senators and remind them of their OWN words!

[Peach]

Feel free to use the list; other Freepers did the hard work and found the quotes.

[Peach]

I'm just back from the beach and other freepers did the research; not me.

[listenhillary]

Bookmarked

[ex 98C MI Dude]

But you must understand, those nominees were in the 'mainstream' and should not be filibustered. Bush's nominees are evil conservatives bent on restoring the Constitution we are trying so hard to kill (since it is a 'living, breathing document', and we failed to abort it in 1787), so they are out of the 'mainstream' that we get to define. /Dingy Harry Reid mode off

[Peach]

LOL.

Isn't it amazing how the conservatives are always out of the mainstream but we control all branches of government?

[Thoro]

Can't wait for the MSM to be responsible and accurately depict the historical quotes on this issue.....

I should probably pack a lunch....

[Mister Baredog]

Why hasn't some "news" agency found the videos of these statements??????

I guess it doesn't "fit" their agenda, what other explanation could there be?????

After all they're very good at throwing Republican quotes back in their faces.

[McGruff]

Good job, why doesn't Russert bring these statements up on the video tape. I'm sure some of them have to recorded somewhere.

[Pete]

FYI, I emailed NRO, Drudge and Fox News with the list.

[Peach]

We need to send the list of quotes to FNC, RUsh, etc.

I've just drafted a letter to my local newspaper which has an opening sentence and then proceeds to list the quotes.

The average American will "get" it.