Results tagged “confirmationhearing”

Mayor Bloomberg was running a tad late today when he flew down to Washington on his private plane in order to testify on behalf of Sonia Sotomayor. The mayor quickly livened up what have been my most accounts slow-going confirmation hearings with the early line, "I strongly believe that she should be supported by Republicans, Democrats and independents. And I should know because I've been all three."

Today is expected to be the final day of confirmation hearings for federal judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's first nominee to the Supreme Court. Yesterday, Sotomayor was questioned about her views on abortion and the Second Amendment, and the Washington Post notes, "Like nominees of both parties before her, she declined to be forthcoming about a host of legal issues. Her demeanor was more relaxed, yet she took no chances, joking openly with Judiciary Committee members while increasingly avoiding their questions. By midafternoon yesterday, even two Democrats on the panel sounded frustrated by her long, legally detailed and often evasive replies."

During day 2 of her Supreme Court confirmation hearings, federal judge Sonia Sotomayor discussed her much-talked about 2001 remarks where she said, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.” Today, Politico reports that Sotomayor "publicly backed off the remarks... During the first day of direct exchanges between senators and the nominee at her confirmation hearings, Sotomayor said her statements were only intended to inspire women and Latinos pursuing careers in the law and were not meant to suggest they would make better judges than others." Sotomayor added that they were a "rhetorical flourish that fell flat... It left an impression that life experience commanded a result in a case but that’s clearly not what I do as a judge,” and said it was an unsuccessful play on former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's statement ("I can't see that on the issues that we address at the court that a wise old woman is going to decide a case differently than a wise old man").

At the start of Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings with the Senate Judiciary Committee, various senators had their say. While Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) said, "She is a judge in which all Americans can have confidence. She has been a judge for all Americans and will be a Justice for all Americans"±and told his fellow committee members, "Let no one demean this extraordinary woman, her success, or her understanding of the constitutional duties she has faithfully performed for the last 17 years"—Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) blasted President Obama's desire for "empathy" in a Supreme Court Justice. Graham added, "Unless you have a complete meltdown, you're going to get confirmed,"and he doubts she will have a meltdown. However, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) continued to question her fairness, "I will not vote for—no senator should vote for—an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices, or sympathies to sway their decision in favor of, or against, parties before the court." You can see the hearings live at MSNBC.com.

Federal judge Sonia Sotomayor will face grilling from the Senate Judiciary Committee today as she begins confirmation hearings for a seat on the Supreme Court. The Obama administration is confident that the Bronx native will become the third woman to sit on the nation's highest court: The Daily News reports, "The White House released a photo of a casually dressed Obama flashing a full-grill grin during a call to wish the Bronx-raised judge good luck" and notes that Senator Chuck Schumer said, "She has wowed people [on both sides of the political aisle]," even suggesting she may get more than 78 yea votes.

Secretary of State-desginate Hillary Clinton is sitting in front of the Senate Foreign Committee, chaired by Senator John Kerry, for her confirmation hearings. Below, we have a live video stream, via MSNBC, of the hearings.

Tomorrow, Senator Hillary Clinton will be grilled during her Secretary of State confirmation hearings. The LA Times says the GOP is rolling out the welcome mat for her—Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia) explains, "Her appointment is a net plus for the administration and the country"—but there is concern that former President Clinton's charity will raise questions. Politico reports that Clinton is ready for any attacks. An anonymous Clinton adviser says, "If they hit her on any personal stuff or on the Bill s—t, she’ll hit the ball out of the park. She’s far more concerned with the substance. This is the re-emergence of the non-political Hillary. The most discomfort is where she and Obama disagree — the ‘you’re naive’ stuff. She can’t show up the president, she can’t appear like she’s trying to formulate her own foreign policy.” And once she's confirmed... well, Governor Paterson, it's your turn in the spotlight.