Merkley Statement on the Senate's Confirmation of Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General

PORTLAND--Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Merkley released this statement today following the Senates confirmation of Michael Mukasey to be U.S. Attorney General:

Based on the testimony he gave during his confirmation hearing and in follow-up letters to the judiciary committee, Michael Mukasey is not the right man for this job. He refused to acknowledge that waterboarding is torture and is illegal, and he found legal justification for the president to ignore the law of the land simply by claiming to be acting in the interest of national security. Americans loudly rejected that philosophy by demanding Alberto Gonzaless
removal.

Gordon Smith continued his perfect record today in support of Bush cabinet nominees, once again cancelling out Senator Ron Wydens vote.

Smith still refuses to say publicly whether he thinks waterboarding is torture. But his vote for Mukasey says it all. He stands with President Bush. He stands with Mukasey. And he stands against the values of Oregonians he is supposed to be representing.

Posted November 9, 2007
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