Republicans fail to tell whole truth on judicial nominees

Delaware News Journal -- Republicans are seething. But why? Their record on President Bill Clinton's judicial nominees was appalling. Republicans used the filibuster and other means to block nominees. When they controlled the Senate, Republicans simply stalled Clinton nominees in the Judiciary Committee. If that didn't work, Republicans employed a Senate tradition even more pernicious than the filibuster: They put a private hold on a nominee's name. That meant no vote could be taken yet objectors never had to disclose who was "holding" a nomination.

Look at the numbers. So far, the Senate has confirmed 124 of President Bush's 126 judicial nominees to reach the floor -- more than 98 percent. Republicans blocked more than 60 Clinton nominees. When Mr. Clinton left office, the judicial vacancy rate on federal courts was at an all-time high. Now the vacancy rate is below 6 percent.