Hatch Undermines Specter’s Stance Against Holder Nomination

As the confirmation hearings for Eric Holder as AG approach this week, I thought the GOP caucus in the Senate made a decent move by letting Arlen Specter be the attack dog.  The moderate, pro-choice Specter, really can’t be painted as a conservative hack, when the inevitable politicking over this appointment is paraded before the press at Thursday’s hearing.  When Judiciary Committee chairman Pat Leahy announced that Holder’s nomination was more than likely in the bag,  Specter protested and asserted that the hearings wouldn’t go that smoothly, and Mr. Holder’s dubious character issues (the Marc Rich pardon, ignoring Al Gore’s fund-raising issues in 2000, etc.) would have to be an issue. 

Specter’s objections were somewhat successful, as the Democrats backpedaled and the hearings were delayed.  This was a minor victory for the GOP; Eric Holder is hardly a standard-bearer of blind justice.  His close association to Obama and ties to Blago (which is one of Specter’s concerns), are of concern but more importantly, have  significant impacts on judicial appointments in an Obama administration, which to no surprise, will fall to the liberal side of the ledger.

So much for that.  It looks like Orrin Hatch loves Eric Holder, so let’s just sabotage any efforts Specter made previously to stop this nomination.  Apparently, Republicans are intent on shooting themselves in the foot…yet again, and refuse to be unified against anything.  Seriously, the GOP better get used to being in the minority, because that’s where they’ll be staying for a long time with episodes like this.