The Democrats' top senator on the Judiciary Committee -- Sen Pat Leahy (D-VT) -- told the Senate this morning he will back President George W. Bush's nominee to the United States Supreme Court.
A rush transcript acquired by RAW STORY from the close-captioned service provided to Congress follows.
#
ULTIMATELY MY VERMONT ROOTS HAVE ALWAYS TOLD ME TO GO WITH MY CONSCIENCE. THEY DO SO TODAY. JUDGE ROBERTS IS A MAN OF INTEGRITY. I CAN ONLY TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD HE DOES NOT HAVE AN IDEOLOGICAL AGENDA. FOR ME, A VOTE TO CONFIRM REQUIRES FAITH THAT THE WORDS HE SPOKE TO US HAD MEANING. I CAN ONLY TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD THAT HE WILL STAOERT COURT TO SERVE AS AN APPROPRIATE CHECK ON POTENTIAL ABUSES OF
Advertisement
{10:45:32} (MR. LEAHY) PRESIDENTIAL POWER. I RESPECT THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS./ AND I READILY ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNKNOWABLE AT THIS MOMENT, THAT PERHAPS THEY'RE RIGHT AND I'M WRONG. ONLY TIME WILL TELL. ALL OF US WILL VOTE THIS MONTH, BUT ONLY LATER WILL WE KNOW IF JUDGE ROBERTS PROVES TO BE THE KIND OF CHIEF JUSTICE HE SAYS HE WOULD BE IF HE TRULY WILL BE HIS OWN MAN. I HOPE AND TRUST THAT HE WILL BE. LY VOTE FOR -- I WILL VOTE FOR HIS
{10:46:04} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT } CONFIRMATION. LY GIVE MY CONSENT AS -- I WILL GIVE MY CONSENT AS A UNITED STATES SENATOR. I YIELD THE FLOOR, AND I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
{10:46:15 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
Originally published on Wednesday September 21, 2005.
The Democrats' top senator on the Judiciary Committee -- Sen Pat Leahy (D-VT) -- told the Senate this morning he will back President George W. Bush's nominee to the United States Supreme Court.