Pro-Torture Republicans Confirm Bush Lackey as Attorney General

The U.S. Senate confirmed President Bush’s nomination of longtime confidant Alberto Gonzales to replace John Ashcroft as United States Attorney General, in spite of a public record that raises serious questions about his commitment to constitutional principles and the rule of law. The 60-36 vote reflected significant opposition for an executive branch nominee, and the second highest vote against an attorney general nominee since 1925. “Americans should be able to feel confident that the Attorney General is committed to protecting their legal and constitutional rights,” said People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas. “Unfortunately, Alberto Gonzales has a record that undermines such confidence. He has consistently advanced the goals of the administration even when they conflicted with the law, the Constitution, and basic human rights principles. His record reflects dangerously misplaced loyalties.” Neas said that Gonzales’ confirmation hearing failed to address concerns about his providing legal justification for torture and asserting unchecked presidential power to detain suspects without access to courts or legal counsel. In an editorial opposing his confirmation, theWashington Post called Gonzales’ testimony “vague, unresponsive and misleading.” But when he clarified his positions in written answers to Senators’ questions, Gonzales confirmed that he continues to back the administration’s position that it has the right to hold suspects in secret without any legal process and to violate basic human rights as a matter of foreign policy. [more]

• Democrat-in-name-only Joseph Lieberman (CT) chose to quote a Biblical passage about doing justice, but then perversely ignored Mr. Gonzales' recent complicity in grave injustices, while advocating his confirmation. Contrastingly, no Republican Senator possessed enough conscience and courage to break away from their party's slavish rubber-stamping of Mr. Bush's every wish [more]

 6 Dem Senators Voted With Reps To Confirm Alberto Gonzales As USAG
 1. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
 2. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
 3. Ben Nelson (D-NE)
 4. Bill Nelson (D-FL)
 5. Mark Pryor (D-AR)
 6. Ken Salazar (D-CO)