Delaware Senator on "boring" Kagan hearings

Senator Ted Kaufman says the Kagan confirmation hearings have lacked some of the drama of other hearings because she’s so well qualified.

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Delaware Senator Ted Kaufman (D) had his chance to question Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan during her confirmation hearing earlier this week.

Kaufman says having a well-qualified nominee like Kagan removes some of the controversy and drama that’s been seen in other confirmation hearings in recent years.  “I think when we  have a candidate who’s picked by the President not of an  ideological streak, not at the extremes, who is incredibly well qualified and has broad experience, these hearings can get pretty boring,” Kaufman said.

Kaufman’s questions, like much of his time in the Senate, focused on business issues.  He questioned Kagan on her thoughts on “results-oriented judging”, citing the Citizens United case recently handed down by the Supreme Court that gives corporations many of the same political free speech rights as citizens.  Kaufman says it seems the justices  manipulated their analysis of the case to reach a desired outcome.  Kagan replied that,  “Results-oriented judging is pretty much the worst kind of judging there is.”

You can find links to video of the entire confirmation hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s website, judiciary.senate.gov.