18 Sep 2007 Black Group Demands Prompt Senate Consideration for Mukasey

With the nomination of retired federal judge Michael B. Mukasey to become the next attorney general, members of the black leadership network Project 21 are demanding liberal senators not hijack the confirmation process as a means of advancing partisan attacks on the White House.

“By engaging in political parlor games and reckless rhetoric instead of doing their constitutionally-mandated duty, the Senate would be abandoning their responsibility to conduct a fair hearing to evaluate Mukasey’s qualifications,” said Project 21 fellow Deneen Borelli.

Roll Call reported on September 10 that liberal members of the Democratic Senate leadership are considering holding up the confirmation process as a means of forcing the Bush Administration to release more documents or provide additional testimony relating to the firings of several U.S. Attorneys last year.  The newspaper quoted a Democratic leadership aide as saying, “it would not be surprising if Democrats decide to take their time on the nomination as a way to force the administration’s hand.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) pointed out that the average time to confirm an attorney general nominee since the days of the Carter Administration is approximately three weeks.  Citing previous liberal demands for the replacement of former attorney general Alberto Gonzales, Senator McConnell said: “Now is the chance for our Democratic colleagues to prove they meant what they said.  If they were serious when they cried out for new leadership at the Justice Department, they will follow Senate precedent.  They will carefully weigh the qualifications of the nominee and vote in a timely fashion.”

“Mukasey should be given the benefit of a clean slate,” added Project 21’s Borelli.  “Given the recent liberal demonization of General Petraeus, it unfortunately seems that nothing is off the table.  The hyper-partisan environment fostered by this Senate leadership is becoming toxic, but treating Mukasey fairly would be a step toward cleaning up this mess.”

Project 21, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research, has been a leading voice of the African-American community since 1992.  For more information, contact David Almasi at (202) 543-4110 x11 or [email protected], or visit Project 21’s website at http://www.project21.org/P21Index.html.