Burr drops his still-unexplained opposition to Duckworth nomination.

[babylonsister]

Yay!

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/08/burr-okays-duckworth/


Burr drops his still-unexplained opposition to Duckworth nomination.

Last week, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) announced that he was delaying the “nomination of Tammy Duckworth, an injured Iraq war helicopter pilot, to be an assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs.” Burr’s office claimed that the senator was simply “doing some due diligence…to ensure veterans have the best representation,” but would not disclose what that “due diligence” was. Now, however, Burr is ready to let Duckworth’s nomination go forward. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow reported last night:

MADDOW: Today, the senator’s office relented. Still not clear on what the “due diligence” was on a decorated helicopter pilot, double amputee, experienced veterans advocate, supported by all the veterans service organizations, and nationally known for her work. But it is done. At last.

Maddow noted, however, that this does not seem to signal “smoother sailing for the rest of the high-level nominations that are still stuck in the senate.”

Watch it at link~

Contacted by ThinkProgress, Burr’s press secretary, David Ward, said that the senator was satisfied with Duckworth’s responses to a number of last-minute questions. Ward added that the senator is “looking forward to moving forward with {Duckworth’s} nomination.”

[annabanana]

1. His only reason was that the RNC told him to... that's it.

Publicity made that obstruction impossible. I am so glad that Rachel has highlighted these "denial of service" attacks...

[polichick]

2. Good work Rachel! These people need a little exposure.

[RaleighNCDUer]

3. Richard Burr, exposed?

Ewwwwww.

[polichick]

4. He's creepy alright! Funny, how quickly he caved with just a little light.

[bdamomma]

5. Burr was exposed by Rachel, hmm...how funny how he changed

his stance on this.

[gratuitous]

6. Sen. Burr probably thought back over his own military career

And, when he realized that he didn't have one, that it was probably too silly for words to pretend that he knew the first thing about what might be best for veterans.

But I'm guessing it's the unfavorable publicity angle, once word got out that a chickenhawk Republican was holding up the nomination of a veteran who had not only heard shots fired in anger, but had actually sustained injuries due to those shots.

[KittyWampus]

7. It's ALMOST too bad. Tammy would've made a create Poster Woman for Republican Obstructionism

[backscatter712]

8. Sunlight caused Burr to burst into flames. n/t

[lonestarnot]

9. Well are they going to drop the pressure on docs diagnosing PTSD too?