AllAmerican
Member
Dear Mr. Kletty,
Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to the nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr. for attorney general. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
As you may know, it is the constitutional role of the United States Senate to offer advice and consent on the President's cabinet nominees. As such, Senators have the right to debate and oppose these nominees based on their merits and qualifications. While I believe President Barack Obama's nominee for attorney general, Mr. Holder, has demonstrated great intelligence and legal acumen throughout his career, he has also exhibited inferior judgment on several occasions, calling into question his ability to serve and advise in a constitutionally responsible manner.
Like you, I have concerns about Mr. Holder's role as deputy attorney general under Janet Reno in the controversial Clinton Administration pardons of fugitive financier Marc Rich and members of the FALN and Los Macheteros terrorist organizations. We are a nation at war, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is essential to upholding the rule of law at such a critical point in our history. Mr. Holder's decision to move forward with recommending these politically-motivated pardons, despite widespread and significant opposition within the DOJ, is an unfortunate lack of discernment and not consistent with President Obama's desire to bring a new level of openness and transparency to the federal government.
It is imperative our country's next attorney general strictly interpret the Constitution and enforce the law, without allowing his personal opinion to influence his decision-making process. Unfortunately, Mr. Holder continues to demonstrate his inability to do so on the issue of Second Amendment rights. During last year's challenge to the District of Columbia gun ban, Mr. Holder displayed his disregard for American citizens' Second Amendment rights by signing an amicus brief arguing against an individual's right to keep and bear arms, a right the Supreme Court subsequently upheld.
Mr. Holder's seeming hostility towards American gun owners includes support for a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases, outlawing gun shows, limiting handgun purchases, and licensing and registering all gun owners. While serving under former President Clinton, Holder stated before the House Judiciary Committee that 13 kids on average die every day because guns are too easily accessible. He went on to propose measures, such as raising the minimum age a person can possess a handgun from 18 to 21, to "reduce inappropriate youth access to firearms." It is evident Mr. Holder views strict gun control measures and obstructing the freedom of law-abiding citizens as a necessary solution to crime.
I believe the right to self-defense is a cherished Constitutional right, and while we must grant law enforcement the tools to protect lives, we must protect with equal vigor the fundamental liberties that define our American way of life. Having an Attorney General who is so opposed to the Second Amendment rights of American citizens would undermine the very system of justice he is nominated to uphold. Rest assured, I am strongly opposed to President Obama's nomination of Eric Holder to serve as Attorney General.
Thanks again for sharing your concerns with me. Please feel free to contact me in the future about any issue important to you or your family. It is an honor to serve you and the people of South Carolina.
Sincerely,
Jim DeMint
United States Senator
_____________________________________________________________
I dont even want to talk about Graham. He's a RINO for sure and votes the popular vote. I cannot support him.
Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to the nomination of Eric H. Holder Jr. for attorney general. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
As you may know, it is the constitutional role of the United States Senate to offer advice and consent on the President's cabinet nominees. As such, Senators have the right to debate and oppose these nominees based on their merits and qualifications. While I believe President Barack Obama's nominee for attorney general, Mr. Holder, has demonstrated great intelligence and legal acumen throughout his career, he has also exhibited inferior judgment on several occasions, calling into question his ability to serve and advise in a constitutionally responsible manner.
Like you, I have concerns about Mr. Holder's role as deputy attorney general under Janet Reno in the controversial Clinton Administration pardons of fugitive financier Marc Rich and members of the FALN and Los Macheteros terrorist organizations. We are a nation at war, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is essential to upholding the rule of law at such a critical point in our history. Mr. Holder's decision to move forward with recommending these politically-motivated pardons, despite widespread and significant opposition within the DOJ, is an unfortunate lack of discernment and not consistent with President Obama's desire to bring a new level of openness and transparency to the federal government.
It is imperative our country's next attorney general strictly interpret the Constitution and enforce the law, without allowing his personal opinion to influence his decision-making process. Unfortunately, Mr. Holder continues to demonstrate his inability to do so on the issue of Second Amendment rights. During last year's challenge to the District of Columbia gun ban, Mr. Holder displayed his disregard for American citizens' Second Amendment rights by signing an amicus brief arguing against an individual's right to keep and bear arms, a right the Supreme Court subsequently upheld.
Mr. Holder's seeming hostility towards American gun owners includes support for a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases, outlawing gun shows, limiting handgun purchases, and licensing and registering all gun owners. While serving under former President Clinton, Holder stated before the House Judiciary Committee that 13 kids on average die every day because guns are too easily accessible. He went on to propose measures, such as raising the minimum age a person can possess a handgun from 18 to 21, to "reduce inappropriate youth access to firearms." It is evident Mr. Holder views strict gun control measures and obstructing the freedom of law-abiding citizens as a necessary solution to crime.
I believe the right to self-defense is a cherished Constitutional right, and while we must grant law enforcement the tools to protect lives, we must protect with equal vigor the fundamental liberties that define our American way of life. Having an Attorney General who is so opposed to the Second Amendment rights of American citizens would undermine the very system of justice he is nominated to uphold. Rest assured, I am strongly opposed to President Obama's nomination of Eric Holder to serve as Attorney General.
Thanks again for sharing your concerns with me. Please feel free to contact me in the future about any issue important to you or your family. It is an honor to serve you and the people of South Carolina.
Sincerely,
Jim DeMint
United States Senator
_____________________________________________________________
I dont even want to talk about Graham. He's a RINO for sure and votes the popular vote. I cannot support him.
The 2 "nay" votes were Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and John Cornyn of Texas (my guy!! Hurrah!!! 
). Apparently, following a bout of testicular cancer, Arlen Specter now has silicon rubber prostheses in place of the affected organs. They probably just used the nuticles Vets put into Chihuahua Dogs. He never struck me as having an especially large set to begin with. 
I have already sent Sen. Cornyn a big thank-you. 