While Senate Republicans yesterday said that they would not stop Solicitor General Elena Kagan’s ascent to the post of the head of the Supreme Court, the Republican leaders continued to target Kagan. Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.),
the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, accused Kagan of going against the law of the coutnry when she was dean of Harvard Law School between 2003 and 2008.
Sessions said that during her tenure as the dean of the prestigious institution, Kagan continued the school’s restrictions on campus military recruitment because of the armed forces’ “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that bans openly gay people from serving. Sessions slammed Kagan on ABC’s “This Week” for taking such a step during a time of war, which he called “no little-bitty matter.”
Last week, the Republicans had sought assurances from the federal government that Kagan Kagan won’t be a “rubber stamp” for the Obama administration as she began courtesy calls to senators who will decide on confirmation.
“It’s my hope that the Obama administration doesn’t think the ideal Supreme Court nominee is someone who would rubber stamp its policies,” said a Republican senator before meeting with Kagan.
Sessions had also expressed similar feelings saying that he was worried that could turn out to be an activist judge. She is “identified with the American liberal position,” Sessions said, noting Kagan had worked as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Obama had named the 50-year-old Kagan last week. She will replace Justice John Paul Stevens. Currently, Kagan has the post of solicitor general at the Justice Department.