About us Login Get email updates
County Fair
Print

A senator is blocking nominations because of unfulfilled earmarks? Wait until Fox News hears about this...

February 06, 2010 12:16 pm ET by Brian Frederick

As the Beltway Media turn their attention to the latest snowstorm to hit the nation's capital, no matter how much snow ultimately falls, one story is threatening to get buried.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) has put a "blanket hold" on several of Obama's nominations for the executive branch. The move has the effect of requiring 60 senators to vote for cloture to break it. Shelby's office would not confirm that the senator is blocking all of Obama's nominees, but did confirm he was blocking "several."

TPMDC's Evan McMorris-Santoro has been on the story and reported Friday:

"Sen. Shelby has placed holds on several pending nominees due to unaddressed national security concerns," Shelby spokesperson Jonathan Graffeo said in a statement. "Among his concerns" are the progress on multi-billion dollar defense contract that would see planes built in Mobile, AL and Obama's decision to scrap a $45 million FBI improvised explosive device lab Shelby secured an earmark for in 2008.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs fired back at Shelby Friday, the New York Times reported:

"I guess if you needed one example of what's wrong with this town, it might be that one senator can hold up 70 qualified individuals to make government work better because he didn't get his earmarks," Mr. Gibbs told reporters today. "If that's not the poster child for how this town needs to change the way it works, I fear there won't be a greater example of silliness throughout the entire year of 2010."

One can only imagine the outrage that would ensue over at Fox News if a Democrat were holding up several nominations because of unfulfilled earmarks. Indeed, one will have to imagine Fox's ire over the Shelby story as well, because as of Friday night, according to Nexis, Fox's major shows had yet to discuss the story...

Support Our Work


Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by Dradeeus (February 06, 2010 12:20 pm ET)
      7  
      "That's outrageous! I can't believe the nerve of.. oh, wait, it's a Republican? Oh. Well, serves democrats right. STICK IT THOSE NAZIS."
      Report Abuse
      • Author by rkcomments (February 06, 2010 8:30 pm ET)
        1  
        Sad thing is that the morons who watch Fox ONLY watch Fox, so they will never know of the Republican hypocrites like Shelby. Of course, those same morons also believe in Creationism, Vitter's 'Family Values, Bush's 'intelligence' etc.etc.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Major Tom (February 06, 2010 12:31 pm ET)
      2  
      Why would they report it? How could this possibly help the cause.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by eb (February 06, 2010 1:30 pm ET)
        3 1
        Yes, Remember the boss mr. Ailes said its all about ratings and Fox viewers seem to go to fox not to be informed but to have their views validated and their heroes celebrated. Fox gives conservative viewers a place where conservative views are safe from the complications that the rest of the media tends to reveal when these conservative viewpoints meet reality. Fox is fair and balanced because the rest of the media threatends one with ideological confusion. Fox restores the balance because its a sactuary away from all that non-conservativeness that is out there in the world. This is fair because other views are mentioned as they are shot down.



        Report Abuse
    • Author by the truth man (February 06, 2010 2:19 pm ET)
         
      can tuy believe the nerve of this man,he couldn't vote for the stimlus because it added to decifit was against ear marks,opps against everyone else's now shelby crying foul because he doesn't get his.Question where is the repubs leadership on this
      Report Abuse
    • Author by bludog1 (February 06, 2010 5:13 pm ET)
        3
      Oh the outrage! Spare me. Just remember back to the last
      Administration's eight years!
      Report Abuse
      • Author by eweston8542983 (February 06, 2010 7:00 pm ET)
        2  
        Any particular part of those eight years?
        The RoeVWade question to determine if you were good enough to help reconstruct Iraq?
        The Supreme court nomminies who promised to be nonideological?
        The meme that depicits don't matter?
        The fast track from Regency U to the Shrub administration?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by jose2 (February 06, 2010 7:20 pm ET)
        1
      So while the government is required by the Constitution to provide for a strong defense you think that the world should pause for a moment because "among his concerns" are some defense projects in his home state?

      Would this article have been more objective if it listed the other concerns?

      So instead of doing what the government is required to do under the Constitution, you would rather have them go off on some ideological crusade like health care?



      Report Abuse
      • Author by benjr (February 06, 2010 7:28 pm ET)
        1  
        Right. . . . He's holding up an Obama nomination because he thinks the government isn't being constitutional! His motives can't have anything to do with politics! The country will only be safe if those planes are built in Mobile, not anywhere else!
        Report Abuse
        • Author by jose2 (February 06, 2010 8:50 pm ET)
             
          What other method does the Senator have to get Obama's attention? Obviously you don't want to shout Obama down when he addresses Congress.

          And note that you failed to address the other concerns.

          He's saying do the job you gave an oath to do or you aren't going to be able to appoint any more cronies. And I would say it has everything to do with politics.

          Where do you want the planes to be built?



          Report Abuse
        • Author by jose2 (February 06, 2010 8:50 pm ET)
             
          What other method does the Senator have to get Obama's attention? Obviously you don't want to shout Obama down when he addresses Congress.

          And note that you failed to address the other concerns.

          He's saying do the job you gave an oath to do or you aren't going to be able to appoint any more cronies. And I would say it has everything to do with politics.

          Where do you want the planes to be built?



          Report Abuse
          • Author by benjr (February 07, 2010 1:45 pm ET)
            1  
            I don't care where the planes are built. As far as getting President Obama's attention, there are other ways to do that without holding up the workings of government. Also, I highly doubt that these planes not getting built somehow weakens the defense of the US, as you imply in your first post.


            He's saying do the job you gave an oath to do or you aren't going to be able to appoint any more cronies. And I would say it has everything to do with politics.

            He is most certainly not saying do the job you swore to do. The Senator is saying "give me what I want or I'm going to block everything you want".
            Report Abuse
            • Author by albertsenj (February 08, 2010 1:41 am ET)
                 
              Sounds like a good old-fashioned shakedown to me: "nice little group of appointees you have there - shame if something was to happen to 'em"
              Report Abuse