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Key Senate Republican Ups the Rhetoric, Questions "Character" of Obama's AG-Nominee

January 06, 2009 6:02 PM

The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., this afternoon raised the level of his rhetoric in questioning the "character" of President-elect Obama’s nominee to be Attorney General, Eric Holder.

Specter suggested that he’s concerned that Holder would be too much like former Attorneys General Harry Daugherty (of the Teapot Dome scandal), Homer Cummings (of FDR’s court-packing riff) and Alberto Gonzales – more loyal to the President than to the rule of law.

Raising “the issue of character,” Specter said “sometimes it is more important for the attorney general to have the stature and the courage to say ‘no’ instead of to say ‘yes.’”

He then went through three controversies where Specter said he wonders if Holder as an official of the Clinton Justice Department passed this test:

*President Clinton's January 2001 Marc Rich pardon, which Holder supported with a "neutral leaning favorable" recommendation and helped facilitate in other ways;

*President Clinton's August 1999 decision to commute the sentences of 16 members of the violent Puerto Rican nationalist group FALN, which Holder supported against the wishes of the FBI; and

*Attorney General Janet Reno's decision when she decided not to appoint an independent counsel to look into “allegations that Vice President Gore engaged in fund-raising from the White House, in violation of federal law.” Specter said he wondered what advice Holder gave his then-boss about that decision.

Specter and his colleagues have raised these questions before, but the fact that Specter is raising them today, the first work day of the new Senate, is not insignificant.

“All of these matters relate to judgment and relate to whether Mr. Holder had the kind of resoluteness” seen in the best Attorneys General in history, Specter said, “to say no to his superior."

The Pennsylvanian said he would keep “an open mind to give Mr. Holder an opportunity to explain his conduct…. Mr. Holder ought to have his day in court, so to speak.”

Specter said that he was raising his concerns about Holder’s “character issue” so as to better prepare Holder for his pending confirmation hearings.

Obama Transition Team spox Nick Shapiro said that "from prosecuting corrupt officials from both parties to supporting the appointment of independent counsels to investigate Democrats, Eric Holder has demonstrated throughout his career that he has the integrity and independence to be an outstanding Attorney General."

Examples of Holder making decisions that didn't necessarily please the Democratic establishment include:

*his time as a U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia when he was responsible for the indictment, prosecution and jail time of former powerhouse Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill.;

*his recommendation as deputy Attorney General that an independent counsel be appointed to investigate then-Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt for lying about his role in the rejection of a casino project (Babbitt was ultimately cleared); and

*his recommendation that independent counsel Ken Starr be able to expand his investigation into President Bill Clinton's affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

The confirmation hearing is scheduled for next Thursday.

- jpt

January 6, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (31)

User Comments

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"In case I didn't make it clear, the Republicans should not go about with their smears against all non-whites (blacks, jews, etc.)"

See I find this attitude revolting.

This whole blog post ought to be taken down because it is factually incorrect- much like the stupid pet abuse charges against Ernie that proven to be totally inaccurate.

Spector is not using any inflammatory rhetoric.

He listed specific past judgment issues he has with Holder and said that he was keeping an open mind.

But no one is allowed to question this ridiculous write up.

But you are allowed to accuse Spector, who is doing his constitutional job, of being in the KKK. Thats just fine as civil discourse.

So to make it clear- Spector is "smearing" no one. He want the guy to answer reasonable questions.

YOU are- because you imply he is in the KKK.

Any even beyond that, there is no intimation any of this is race based. You are just throwing that out there as a ridiculous partisan smokescreen.

Posted by: BertieW | Jan 7, 2009 3:10:07 AM

Sen. Arlen Specter is not the only one with grave doubts about Holder...!

PEBO is sinking, and he isn't even in the Oval Office! It is difficult to get rid of the stench of cesspool politics!

Posted by: aware2u | Jan 7, 2009 2:37:25 AM

I have only a few words to add as a message to Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn:

HANDS OFF MR ERIC HOLDER!

Posted by: exatlantic | Jan 7, 2009 2:22:19 AM

McGreevy, Spitzer, Hsu, Blago, Kwame Kirkpatrick, Patterson, William Jefferson, Charlie Rangle. Richardson?

Half Billion dollar libraries, Billion dollar campaigns, 0 votes for Hillary's primary opponent in Harlem.

This whole thing stinks.

Posted by: BertieW | Jan 7, 2009 1:39:18 AM

Republicans have a lot of nerve bringing up ethics, character, responsibility, accountability or anything else after the last 8 years...

pettiness, malfeasance, stupidity are what they have represented....

Iraq, New Orleans, Terry Schaivo..

Posted by: US of A | Jan 7, 2009 1:18:02 AM

Specter was a legendary bad guy amoung Republicans during the Clinton admin because he always supported a Presidents right to his own appointments including judges.

He must have some serious concern

Posted by: smith | Jan 7, 2009 12:58:26 AM

Is Arlen Specter still living?

Posted by: Omentum | Jan 7, 2009 12:54:22 AM

Arlen Spect's reasoning smacks of Sarah Palin's fear tactics. I wish he and his cohorts would just wear sheets instead of pretending.

Posted by: Common Sense | Jan 6, 2009 9:42:47 PM

I dont see any 'rhetoric'

Posted by: BertieW | Jan 6, 2009 8:18:12 PM

I am questioning Arlen Specter's character.

What an idiot.

Posted by: Amoreena | Jan 6, 2009 6:51:15 PM

Specter is on target to raise questions about Holder's fitness to be A.G. BUT, did Arlen raise any similar questions about ANY of Bush's appointments to this or similar posts during the confirmation process or is this just partisan politics on Specter's part?

Posted by: sophillyfatz | Jan 6, 2009 6:22:46 PM

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