In President Obama’s first few days in office, he has already undone some serious damage from the previous administration with the stroke of a pen. He signed orders to close Guantanamo and the CIA’s network of secret foreign prisons. And he repealed the global gag rule prohibiting U.S. dollars and contraceptive supplies from going to any international family planning program that provides abortions or counsels women about their reproductive health options. He’s nominated stellar candidates to run the government, many of whom have been confirmed and started their work.
Great start!
President Obama’s inauguration this week was enthusiastically celebrated by Americans of all political stripes. Even many former Bush supporters have embraced President Obama and agree that the country needs to move beyond partisanship and division. President Obama’s high approval ratings are a clear indication that Americans are willing and ready to do what’s needed to heal our economy, restore our good standing in the world and meet the enormous challenges we face.
Unfortunately, it seems that not quite everyone is ready to move forward with us. On Wednesday, led by Sens. Arlen Specter and John Cornyn, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a committee vote on Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder. Blocking confirmation of this historic nominee is exactly what Americans don’t need or want. Whatever political assurances they may be seeking from Holder before he takes the reins at the DOJ, as attorney general, Holder’s only commitments should be to the Constitution, the law and the American people (commitments he has already demonstrated that he will honor).
Some of these same Senate Republicans even tried to play partisan games with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, using their ability to offer amendments to slow the legislation. But I am happy to report that last night the Senate passed it! Thank you to all of you who took action over the last few years in support of the bill — this is a tremendous victory. Next up: the Paycheck Fairness Act! Stay tuned for more on that as we keep up the pressure to get that through the Senate.
Eric Holder’s confirmation. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. These are things worth fighting for. We can’t count on any party or branch of government to always to do the right thing, but when they do, we need to be there to block for them — to make sure we’re countering the opposition who would deter progress and the restoration of constitutional values to our government.