John Cornyn (gov)
Here’s a man-bites-dog story: John Cornyn has taken his fight to get a Democrat confirmed as North Texas U.S. Attorney to the Federalist Society.
In a speech Friday to members of the conservative legal organization’s Dallas chapter, Cornyn touted his pick for the job, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Saldana. “It would set a bad precedent if they [the administration] bowed to political pressure” and didn’t nominate her, Cornyn said, according to the Dallas Morning News.
That “political pressure” would be from Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), who is furious that Cornyn and Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) have refused to stand aside and let Texas Democrats recommend the candidates. But senators have the power to block nominees, so the White House has been deferential to their views — even when they are Republicans.
Cornyn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has vowed to block any nominee who didn’t meet his approval. He finessed the matter by picking Saldana, a Democrat, for the Dallas-based job. It was a canny move. The Obama administration doesn’t want to be accused, as President George W. Bush was, of politicizing the U.S. Attorney selections, and has gone out of its way to find consensus candidates. Now Cornyn gets to call himself bipartisan while also appearing to be in charge of the selection process. All this undoubtedly really steams Doggett.
Poor Saldana has been caught in the crossfire. According to The Morning News, Saldana was on the Democrats’ short list — until the Republicans began backing her. Then, she was off the Democratic list. Read our recent stories about the dueling Texas lists here and here.
Read here a joint news release Cornyn issued with Hutchison demanding the Lone Star State Democrats back Saldana. Saldana is not on the Democratic delegation’s official list, despite being a Democratic donor to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.
The Federalist Society has been an incubator for conservative legal talent. During the Bush administration, it served as a stepping stone to high-ranking legal jobs.
Cornyn told the group:
“I have not heard a single legitimate reason offered by them to oppose her,” Cornyn said. “The real reason for opposition is rooted more in politics, not merit.”
The Democrats are pushing for either Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Terri Moore or Dallas civil lawyer Roger Williams for the Northern District spot.
Hutchison, meanwhile, has turned her attention to running for the Republican nomination for governor, challenging Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R).
KBH needs to do her JOB! What a RINO.