It Would Appear Republican Senators Like The Muslim Ban Enough To Support Jeff Sessions

I thought the Muslim Ban might make Judiciary waver on Sessions. It didn't.

By Elie Mystal on February 01, 2017 1:41 pm

Jeff Sessions (Generated by JG JPEG Library)

The Jeff Sessions nomination has made it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 11-9. Straight party-line vote.

Sigh.

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By Above the Law

I knew that the Sessions confirmation was likely unstoppable. I knew that it was a foolish hope to think that Republican Senators would turn on one of their former colleagues, simply because his record suggests he’s a racist. That’s not a dealbreaker for Republicans. I knew that.

But I did think that the Muslim Ban might be so horrible to pull at least one or two of these guys off message. Ben Sasse is on the Judiciary Committee. Lindsey Graham is on the Judiciary Committee. So is Jeff Flake. Would none of them of the guts to demand that Sessions clarify his position on this executive order before rubber stamping his nomination?

Things did get heated during the final vote, but not from the people who mattered. Ted Cruz blasted Al Franken who blasted back, until John Cornyn white knighted Cruz. But if I tell you Al Franken was on one side and Ted Cruz was on the other, I don’t even have to tell you the issue they were fighting over for you to make up your mind you who support. The Senators one might hope would give a second thought to Sessions after the Muslim ban, didn’t waver.

The nomination will now go to the full Senate where Sessions is expected to be overwhelmingly confirmed. I should get used to typing that.