TPM is running it live HERE. They are also live blogging the Confirmation Hearing.
Here’s something that’s never been done before:
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) will also testify against Sessions.
The three black lawmakers will testify on the third and final panel of the hearing, a move that upset Democratic lawmakers. Democrats argued that it is customary for sitting lawmakers to testify before outside witnesses are called. But Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the chair of the Judiciary Committee, refused to let the lawmakers testify ahead of outside witnesses who had already been called to speak before the committee.
Well, that should be interesting.
I actually can’t think of anyone who represents Republican ideals better than Sessions.
- He “was withdrawn as a nominee to a federal judgeship over claims that he made racist and derogatory comments about civil rights groups.”
2. He has a record of blocking voting rights and “has shown skepticism toward the Voting Rights Act.
3. He’s against Criminal Justice Reform and decriminalizing marijuana, but is all for civil forfeiture.
4. He’s anti-immigration.
5. And, boy, does he hate LGBTQ people. It’s like his life work to deny this group basic rights.
“He voted in support of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, against taking up a bill providing workplace discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, against repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and ― two times ― against expanding the definition of hate crimes to include attacks on people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
In 2014, a year after the Supreme Court struck down part of the now-defunct Defense of Marriage Act, Sessions co-sponsored a bill that would allow the state definition of marriage to supersede the federal definition.
Sessions is currently co-sponsoring the First Amendment Defense Act, an extreme measure that would allow any taxpayer-funded organization to ignore laws that conflict with its religious beliefs about marriage. It opens the door to all kinds of discrimination against LGBTQ people. A state-contracted counselor, for example, could deny services to a lesbian mom. Taxpayer-funded adoption agencies could refuse to place children with same-sex married couples. Government employees could decline to file official forms for gay couples (see: Kim Davis, who went to jail for doing this).”
That’s Trump’s pick for Attorney General. Makes sense.
Hate to say it, really I do, but Sessions will be confirmed as the senate goes into “good old boy” mode and confirms one of their own. Despite his ugly thoughts and desires Sessions is the proverbial “southern gentleman”, along with all the evil that implies.
I think he’ll be confirmed, too. They don’t need D votes to do this, right?
Charles Blow says:
“Sessions just said that he only knows what the media has reported abt the Russian hacks and nothing more.”
Oh my. Sessions really said that?