Stop a 'Witch Hunt in the Senate' -- Confirm Solis

La Opinion, the Los Angeles newspaper that is one of the largest-circulation Spanish language publications in the United States, describes Republican moves to delay confirmation of Labor Secretary-nominee Hilda Solis as nothing less than "a witch hunt in the Senate."

La Opinion argues that:

The profile of this Los Angeles Democrat is ideal to fulfill the position for which the federal agency was mandated. There is no doubt that the department changed its focus in the last eight years to reflect the Bush Administration's perspective on labor relations, tipping the scales toward the employers.

But times have now changed. The election of President Obama established new priorities for the labor sector, focusing on worker rights. The Republicans are upset by Solis' long-standing conviction to support workers in labor organizing. We believe the debate over the expansion of unions should be a legislative discussion about a specific bill, and not inserted into Solis' nomination. The opportunity will come.

The Senate's constitutional responsibility to confirm Cabinet nominations is to review the ethics and professional qualifications of the nominated; it is not an ideological litmus test. Nor is this a Supreme Court appointment. In the Solis case, the president's trust in the nominee is sufficient. This is the prerogative of the election victor.

It is, therefore, outrageous that the confirmation of Solis has turned into a witch hunt. There is no personal ethical lapse that makes her unfit to lead the Department of Labor. The tax issues of her husband's business have nothing to do with her. It is unacceptable that her situation is being compared to the serious ethical lapses of other nominees for positions in Obama's Administration.

Major unions, Latino organizations, the National Women's Political Caucus and other organizations representing the concerns of women--a group dramatically underrepresented in the Obama Cabinet--have all weighed in on behalf of the stalled Solis nomination. Says Emily's List: "The Republicans have been wandering in the wilderness for weeks on this nomination. It's time to act. Hilda Solis will add a necessary perspective as a woman, a Latina, and a member of a working class family. With nearly 600,000 jobs lost in the last month alone, we need to do everything we can to get our economy back on track--and Hilda Solis is going to play a critical role. The questions have been answered and it's time for the Senate to approve this nomination."

Now, Progressive Democrats of America is launching a major grassroots lobbying campaign to get the congresswoman confirmed.

Declaring that "Republican Senators Diddle While 'Rome' Burns," PDA asks:

Why have Republican senators been stalling the confirmation of Labor Secretary nominee Hilda Solis for nearly a month? Could it be because the last thing they want is a Labor secretary who actually supports American workers?

For too long, inside-the-beltway corporatists have demonized the American worker--we need a strong voice for Labor, and we have one in Hilda Solis.

Solis is eminently qualified for the position. She rose up as a community organizer--championing workers' rights--and served in the California Assembly before being elected to Congress. Solis knows how government works, and she works for the benefit of the average working American.

With thousands of people being forced into unemployment daily, now is not the time for Republican senators to be diddling over ideological differences.

Please contact your senators NOW and urge them to confirm Secretary-designate Hilda Solis!"

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Comments (17)

1. Unexpected Headline: Obama Backs Bush On Rendition Case, Secrecy

   But it's true. In a San Francisco federal court, five men who claim they were abducted and sent to foreign countries to be tortured, have been battling the Bush Administration, which claimed that "state secrets" and "national security" would be put at risk if the case were allowed to proceed. On Monday, the Obama Justice Department lawyers told the Ninth Circuit that they agreed with the Bush Administration argument.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 02/11/2009 @ 08:54am

2. Solis and supporters should take a page from Clarence Thomas and claim the Senate Repubs don't like her because she's a woman and Latino.

   Gotta play hardball sometimes....GOP does it, so should they.

   Posted by Mask at 02/11/2009 @ 09:14am

3. Gotta play hardball sometimes....GOP does it, so should they.

   Posted by Mask at 02/11/2009 @ 09:14am

   Good call Mask. That would put them on the defensive....but then again, these loud mouthed idiots should be on the defensive about the 8 years of their business agenda failures in the form of the unchecked stock markets and so on, but nothing can stop these moronic repugs from flapping there gums.

   Frosty, Obama is a politician. Also note that he's a middle of the road democrat. There wasn't much difference between Obama and Hillary Clinton. Now, if a guy like Kucinich where president, then you might see some real action in dealing with the Bush administrations war crimes and other crimes committed while in office.

   Even if the DOJ investigates some of these things, nothing will happen. The laws only apply to the lowly citizens, not the officials who are merely puppets for the tycoons pulling their strings.

   Posted by Wolfgang1 at 02/11/2009 @ 09:31am

4. Posted by Wolfgang1 at 02/11/2009 @ 09:31am

   Thomas and his supporters were happy enough to play the race card ("high tech lynching") (something they otherwise deplore....but hypocrisy nothing new to the RIght)...

   why shouldn't Solis? Plus it would probably work, given the GOP is struggling to come up with ways to win women and Latino voters.

   Given a choice of pissing off those two groups...or letting a "radical" become SecLabor....they'll fold.

   Posted by Mask at 02/11/2009 @ 09:51am

5. The day Solis is confirmed (big IF), will be a big down day for the stock market....barring something hugely positive for the investment community!

   Next prediction if Solis is confirmed: In the next few years, there WILL BE more union members but LESS overall jobs in America......every company that could, would outsource (or up the % outsourced) as much work as possible....with my blessing!

   Posted by Happy at 02/11/2009 @ 10:24am

6. its all about the ideology. the same party that had the gall to spend buzillions of $$$$ on witchhunting clinton over NOTHING solely to obfuscate, damage, and stall...

   continues do do the same.

   its all about the party, the ideology, which they still mistake with "the country".

   misery loves company and the "american political taliban" of the GOP remains as committed to suicidal partisanship as ever.

   unfortunately their suicide will involve them grabbing hold of the entire country as they jump.

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 02/11/2009 @ 10:48am

7. "The day Solis is confirmed (big IF), will be a big down day for the stock market."

   good.

   ----

   How many witches can be left in DC after the dems 8 years of hunting?

   And yet again, does no one else find it highly amusing that the anti-tax party is making such big deals over tax issues?

   Posted by crabwalk at 02/11/2009 @ 11:05am

8. Posted by frosty zoom at 02/11/2009 @ 08:54am

   Now you know why I held my nose pulling the lever marked "B. Hussein Obama". He ain't no lefty, he a centrist. Now, that is good in many areas, but rendering people is bad, hiding behind "national security" is a weak argument years after the activity took place. I guess it could give cover to the new "we don't torture " policy. "We" don't torture, but we have others do it for us.

   Posted by crabwalk at 02/11/2009 @ 11:11am

9. The day Solis is confirmed (big IF), will be a big down day for the stock market....barring something hugely positive for the investment community!-----Posted by Happy at 02/11/2009 @ 10:24am

   Notice how he caveats it? Solis confirmed and Market goes up....HAPP will "miraculously discover" something hugely positive has occurred that negates the negative impact of Solis.

   Posted by Mask at 02/11/2009 @ 11:47am

10. http://www.sen.ca.gov / leginfo/BILL-6-DEC-1998/ CURRENT/AB/FROM0000/ AB0060/SAFLOOR2.TXT

    California Senate Industrial Relations Committee 4-3, 6/9/99 Ayes: Alarcon, Figueroa, Karnette, SOLIS Noes: Haynes, Morrow, Mountjoy

    'With the exception of those orders covering agricultural and domestic workers, the orders contain provisions allowing the institution of an alternative workweek of four ten-hour days without the payment of overtime compensation as long as the work does not exceed 40 hours per week. Alternative workweeks MUST BE APPROVED IN A SECRET BALLOT election by two-thirds of the affected employees.'

    [Emphasis added]

    Posted by HonestLiberal at 02/11/2009 @ 12:00pm

11. The day Solis is confirmed (big IF), will be a big down day for the stock market....barring something hugely positive for the investment community!

    Next prediction if Solis is confirmed: In the next few years, there WILL BE more union members but LESS overall jobs in America......every company that could, would outsource (or up the % outsourced) as much work as possible....with my blessing!

    Posted by Happy at 02/11/2009 @ 10:24am | ignore this person | warn this person

    Screw the parasite - sorry, the investment - community. The stock market has utterly failed at what it theoretically is supposed to do, provide investment capital for socially productive economic development. It is now, and has been for decades, merely a large casino.

    And if all of those jobs are outsourced, the companies should be nationalized and the jobs brought right back here. Hell, I might even support Pat Buchanan and Paul Craig Roberts and their call to bring back tariffs!

    Posted by cka2nd at 02/11/2009 @ 1:19pm

12. Posted by cka2nd at 02/11/2009 @ 1:19pm

    Reminds me of my old poli-sci teacher who said (paraphrase) "You follow the political spectrum to its opposite ends...and they meet!"

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 02/11/2009 @ 2:16pm

13. John Nichols, no since in crying over this failed nomination either. Especially one with a conflict of interest working with the Americans Right at Work group. She violated House ethics rules.

    I seriously doubt Obama is going to take a chance on her now.

    Posted by ACook at 02/11/2009 @ 3:44pm

14. I seriously doubt Obama is going to take a chance on her now.

    Posted by ACook at 02/11/2009 @ 3:44pm

    AC, I'll bite on this one. What house ethics rules did she break? Which house ethics rule or rules did she break, when did she break them, how did she break them and please state your source or sources.

    Posted by Wolfgang1 at 02/11/2009 @ 4:28pm

15. The stock market has utterly failed at what it theoretically is supposed to do, provide investment capital for socially productive economic development....

    Posted by cka2nd at 02/11/2009 @ 1:19pm

    "theoretically", you're off your rockers if you think I'm providing my money "for socially productive economic development"!

    I made a small fortune w/Phillips Morris stocks when it was the definition of socially UNPRODUCTIVE development.....carry on with your theoretical living!

    Posted by Happy at 02/11/2009 @ 4:34pm

16. Posted by Wolfgang1 at 02/11/2009 @ 4:28pm

    I'd just skip even that, WOLF....if ACOOK predicts it....predict the opposite-

    "Sorry SRJ, but I disagree. Obama could have a billion dollars and it still would not make him president. Even with all the money the DNC has brought in, the biggest prize is still eluding them. Otherwise yesterday's infomercial would not have been necessary.---Posted by ACook at 10/30/2008 @ 10:29am

    Seismic Shifts in the Political Landscape posted by Tom Engelhardt on 10/29/2008 @ 09:15am

    Posted by Mask at 02/11/2009 @ 4:35pm

17. Notice how he caveats it? Solis confirmed and Market goes up....HAPP will "miraculously discover" something hugely positive has occurred that negates the negative impact of Solis.

    Posted by Mask at 02/11/2009 @ 11:47am

    You're losing my interest rapidly....sound like Markos: "The Repubs are irrelevant....blah, blah, blah..."

    If the day Solis is confirmed coincide with an announcement that the Bush tax cuts will be extended, what would happen to the stock market? I won't educate you....figure it out yourself!

    Posted by Happy at 02/11/2009 @ 4:36pm