Senator Reid faces pressure from some left-leaning groups on Justice pick

The Hill ^ | 10/30/2009 | Alexander Bolton

[markomalley]

National liberal groups are pressing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to act on one of President Barack Obama’s most controversial nominees.

Nearly 40 organizations have called on Reid to schedule a vote on Dawn Johnsen, Obama’s pick to lead the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, which is tasked with providing legal advice to the president.

Several members of this coalition are frustrated that Johnsen’s nomination has languished in the Senate for nearly eight months despite Democrats’ control of 60 seats.

Johnsen has run into strong Republican opposition because of her statements on sensitive political issues ranging from abortion to voter ID law. But her writings on presidential powers over suspected terrorists in military custody and other national security issues may be giving some Democrats political heartburn.

Left-leaning groups including People for the American Way, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, Feminist Majority and the National Council of La Raza have sent a letter to Reid calling the delay “extraordinary and unacceptable.”

“We trust he can do it and he has to put his shoulder to the wheel,” said Marge Baker, of People for the American Way. “I think it’s time to figure when to schedule this for a vote.”

[IbJensen]

Marge Baker, of People for the American Way

Just what is the 'American Way' and what does that mean to our ruling class?

To them it means to tank this nation as quickly as possible before the rubes try to do something drastic to stop them!