An oldie but one that raises an interesting question

Thursday, July 7, 2005

Sweeney slams Schumer over potential high court nominee

The Associated Press WASHINGTON — A Republican congressman from upstate New York launched an unexpected broadside Wednesday at Sen. Charles Schumer over the new opening on the Supreme Court.

Rep. John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, criticized Schumer, a Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, for recent comments about the vacancy created on the bench by the resignation of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Sweeney, who is traveling in Italy this week with a congressional delegation, issued a statement Wednesday saying he is "deeply disappointed in my colleague Senator Schumer's comments with respect to the role of the Senate in the nominating process."

Sweeney spokeswoman Melissa Carlson said the congressman was unhappy about comments the senator made in Albany on Tuesday about the search for a successor to O'Connor.

"I don't like ideologues on the bench," Schumer said, adding he wanted "a thoughtful, mainstream (nominee) with the ability to see the other side ... I hope the president nominates a consensus nominee, someone who would get 90 to 95 votes in the Senate ... Somebody who will interpret the law, not make it."

The response from Sweeney is unusual in that New York lawmakers in Washington, even those of opposing parties, rarely criticize each other directly. Sweeney has not been involved previously in the political wrangling over judges or judicial nominees.

Umm, what pressing work for upstate New York is being done in Italy in July?

Tags: John Sweeney (t d f)