Hagan on Mukasey nomination

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on November 6, 2007 - 8:15am.
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Kay HaganState Sen. Kay Hagan said she does not know whether she would vote to approve Michael Mukasey for attorney general.

The Greensboro Democrat told Dome that she has "not had the privilege" of hearing his testimony before Congress on torture and the Bush administration's policies. However, she did say that she thinks he is "a reputable individual that has great credentials."

"I don't have a vote in this right now, so I'm going to let the sitting senator decide that," she said.

She said she does not agree with Mukasey's reluctance to characterize the practice known as waterboarding — in which terrorism suspects are made to feel they are drowning — as torture.

"Waterboarding seems like torture in my book," she said.

Hagan is running against Chapel Hill investment banker Jim Neal for the Democratic nomination to face U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2008.

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Substance and style

Submitted by Anglico on November 6, 2007 - 10:17am.

My take on your Hagan and Neal blurbs today:

Hagan's disappointing response sounds a lot like Mukasey's own equivocating to the Senate committee, with echoes of "I don't recall" from Alberto Gonzales. The proper response would have been: "Based on what I know about Mr. Mukasey's reluctance to take a stand against torture, I would not vote to confirm him as Attorney General."

Hagan's willingness to give the Bush administration the benefit of the doubt does not bode well.

I hope you've asked Neal the same question, instead of worrying about whether he makes it to all 100 counties. I suspect he'll stand squarely against any appointee who would not automatically condemn the practice of torture.

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