Sen. Chuck Schumer herewith gets an attaboy for his support for Judge Michael Mukasey’s nomination to replace departed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Mukasey was well-received at his Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearings.
But left-wing opposition to the nomination was intense, and Democrats raised last-minute objections to Mukasey – saying that the former federal jurist didn’t clearly denounce the interrogation practice known as “waterboarding.” Several committee Democrats – including Chairman Pat Leahy and Sen. Hillary Clinton – announced their opposition.
But Schumer, who also sits on the panel, didn’t join in.
That’s significant because Schumer can be as tough a partisan as anyone.
In 2006, Schumer chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as his party won control of the Senate. He remains in the same role as Democrats work to expand that majority.
But, at the committee vote yesterday, Schumer said, “I [support Mukasey] for one overarching reason: The Department of Justice – once the crown jewels among our government institutions – is adrift and rudderless. It desperately needs a strong and independent leader at the helm to set it back on course. I believe Judge Mukasey is that person.”
Schumer also convinced Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) to back the judge.
The 11-8 vote sends the nomination to the full Senate, where Mukasey should be confirmed – barring any parliamentary stunts by other Democrats.
Chuck Schumer showed that principle can occasionally win out over politics.
Good for him.