A Brief Note About Republican Obstructionism-- Alabama Edition

We've been talking a lot about the Republican strategy of systematically obstructing the president's nominees as their default position. Sore loser Jon Kyl had announced their intentions even before Obama was sworn in, and the entire Republican caucus in the Senate has gone along with it. And when their series of mean-spirited little ploys get the spotlight of public scrutiny shined on them, they back away fast. Last week, as the swine flu epidemic started taking hold and voters' children started dying, people started asking uncomfortable questions about why the Republicans were obstructing the confirmation of Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General.

None of them raised any objections to her. A dozen or two of them-- the partisan, crusty old angry white men brigade-- were fuming about something or other (when aren't they?) and decided to block her ability to take office. Just because they could. So they did. But when the public outrage got too loud, they backed off and Thursday night before the Senate adjourned for a long weekend, Miss McConnell signaled to Harry Reid that they were ready to give in. They didn't want a roll call but said they'd go along with a voice vote that would be less likely to show up in campaign ads pointing out their hypocrisy.

Dr. Benjamin hails from Alabama, where she is celebrated as a public health heroine, but one of her state's senators, Jeff Sessions, widely considered the senatorial spokesperson for the KKK, was one of the instigators of the hold on her nomination. When the GOP raised the white flag and unanimously went along with the confirmation, he ran to local TV stations to take credit for her approval! Honey dripping from his mouth, Sessions couldn't wait to claim the accolades for having ended the obstructionist tactics he was responsible for!

“I’m delighted that the Senate voted unanimously to approve Regina Benjamin-- one of Alabama’s most dedicated and civic-minded medical professionals-- to be ‘America’s Doctor.’ Dr. Benjamin has an extensive resume, including her time as an Associate Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama, and her service as a Chair of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama-- the first black woman to hold that position. But equally impressive is her resolute spirit, compassion, and commitment to her community, which was so evident in her care for patients after Hurricane Katrina. The American people will undoubtedly benefit from her knowledge and unwavering dedication to improving the public’s health and wellness.

I applaud President Obama for his nomination of Dr. Benjamin, and I greatly appreciate the work of Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Leader, for making this vote possible tonight. This is indeed a proud day for the people of Alabama.”

How long did it take for you to get lost in Sessions' miasma of hypocrisy?