PAT'S BACKTRACK

Sen. Leahy Changes His Tune On Taking
Due Time For Hearings
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Obama Touts Sotomayor's Extensive Record

In Announcing Her Nomination, President Obama Noted Judge Sotomayor's Extensive Record Including Decisions On "A Range Of Constitutional And Legal Questions." President Obama: "Walking in the door, she would bring more experience on the bench and more varied experience on the bench than anyone currently serving on the United States Supreme Court had when they were appointed. ... For the past 11 years, she has been a judge on the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit of New York, one of the most demanding circuits in the country. There, she has handed down decisions on a range of constitutional and legal questions ..." (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Nomination Of Judge Sonya Sotomayor To The U.S. Supreme Court, Washington, DC, 5/26/09)

But Leahy Rushing Confirmation Anyway

Leahy Forging Ahead With July 13 Confirmation Hearing Date. "Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy has forged ahead with a July 13 start date for confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, pushing past Republicans who want more time to dig through her judicial and personal history." (Alex Isenstadt, "Sotomayor Hearing Date Set For July 13," Politico, 6/9/09)

Leahy: "There Is No Reason To Unduly Delay Consideration Of This Well-Qualified Nominee." (Alex Isenstadt, "Sotomayor Hearing Date Set For July 13," Politico, 6/9/09)

Even Though He Used To Say Do It Right Rather Than Fast

Leahy: "It's Far More Important To Do It Right Than To Do It Fast." WILSON: "Democrat Pat Leahy was absolutely unwilling to characterize, in anyway, his meeting with Judge Alito, though he continued to criticized the president from bowing to pressure from the right when he withdrew the nomination of Harriet Miers. As the ranking democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Leahy is engaged in negotiations on when the hearings might begin. He's trying to slow the process down." PATRICK LEAHY (D), SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: "It's far more important to do it right than to do it fast." (Fox News Channel's "Special Report With Brit Hume," 11/2/05)

Leahy "Envisioned Full And Exhaustive Hearings," And Because Of Roberts' Young Age, Democrats Pledged "A Thorough Review Of His Record." "[S]enator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont...said he envisioned full and exhaustive hearings, adding that he did not expect 'any issues that go to the qualifications' of a justice to be off limits. Given Judge Roberts's age, there is every reason to think he could serve on the court for decades, or even become chief justice, a fact that Democrats emphasized in pledging a thorough review of his record." (Todd S. Purdum, "Bush Picks Nominee For Court," The New York Times, 7/20/05)

Leahy: "No One Is Entitled To A Free Pass To A Lifetime Appointment To The Supreme Court." "The ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, promised a full scrub of Roberts's record and said past confirmation votes by the Senate shouldn't suggest that Roberts has a clear path to being confirmed. 'We expect full answers,' Leahy said. 'No one is entitled to a free pass to a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.'" (Rick Klein, "Showing Reserve, Democrats Vow Detailed Look," The Boston Globe, 7/20/05)

Leahy: "We Need To Consider This Nomination As Thoroughly And Carefully As The American People Deserve. It's Going To Take Time." "The president has announced his choice. Now the Senate has to rise to the challenge and do its work. To fulfill our constitutional duties, we need to consider this nomination as thoroughly and carefully as the American people deserve. It's going to take time and the cooperation of the nominee and the administration." (Sen. Leahy, Press Conference, 7/19/05)

Leahy: "It Makes Sense That We Take Time To Do It Right. I Think The American People Deserve Nothing Less." (CNN's "American Morning," 9/6/05)

Leahy: "We'll Sit Down, We'll Do Our Due Diligence. I Expect To Spend A Lot Of The Month Of August In My Home In Vermont Reading All Of Judge Roberts' Opinions And Writings, As Well As The Background Material About Him So That Sometime In September We Can Have Thorough And Open Hearings." (CNN's "Inside Politics, 7/20/05)

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