I respect the political process and I also understand a large part of that process involves strategy. However, in a lawmaker’s quest to strategize effectively, they must never forget their responsibility to their respective constituencies and also the general public.
More than four months after President Barack Obama nominated Loretta Lynch to replace Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General, an official confirmation appears to be a far-fetched dream as House Republicans continue to play partisan politics.
Lynch, an African-American woman, has a solid judicial history and has received bipartisan praise for her work over the years including her tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
There, Lynch prosecuted terrorists, corrupt government officials, and she has even removed notable mobsters and gangsters from the streets of New York.
As if that weren’t admirable enough, Lynch has also helped individuals who were swindled by Wall Street power brokers receive billions of dollars owed to them in restitution.
By all accounts, she is highly qualified and grounded her career on fairness.
The Republicans’ refusal to confirm Lynch in a timely manner makes her process the longest of the five previous attorney generals combined! This has been the longest process for an AG in 30 years.
Some speculate that perhaps Republicans are holding off on confirming Lynch because she is Black and perhaps because she is a woman.
While that may be an underlying motive for some senators, I doubt it is the case for all.
I believe Republicans are refusing to confirm Lynch because they dislike President Obama so much, they wish to make his final years in office the most uncomfortable and unproductive of his tenure.
Democrats believe Republicans are holding Lynch hostage because Republicans want a human trafficking bill that prevents women from using restitution funds paid by perpetrators to get an abortion.
Republicans on the other hand state that Democrats are “filibustering” the bill.
And aside from the debate over the human trafficking bill, some Republicans, such as Sens. John McCain and James Risch, say they won’t vote for Lynch because she said she would uphold Obama’s executive orders concerning immigration.
The order protects millions of undocumented immigrants from being deported.
The role of a United States Attorney General is tremendously important. So much so this country can’t continue to stall.
This country needs Lynch confirmed immediately so she can continue on the path Holder has paved in an effort toward a safer, more secure and fair nation that is unafraid to address key issues.
It is disgusting—and also disappointing— to see the divisive manner America’s top lawmakers behave. The continuous dysfunction that is rampant in Washington discredits politicians and it erodes the faith Americans once cherished in their political system.
It has certainly eroded my faith. I am so over the political process, politicians in general and the child-like behavior they constantly exhibit.
America used to be a country of preeminence. Get a clue lawmakers… confirm Loretta Lynch.
