Posted By James Besser
Jews Still Mostly Mum on Mukasey / James Besser in Washington
At first, it looked like his nomination would pass muster with many Democrats who expected an appointee with a more strident ideological past.
But opposition to the confirmation of retired Judge Michael Mukasey as Attorney General is surging in the Democratic ranks. This week three Democratic presidential hopefuls – Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.), Sen. Joe Biden (Del.) and Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) – signaled opposition to the Mukasey nomination because of his positions on presidential authority and his refusal to say that “waterboarding,” a controversial interrogation technique, is a form of torture.
And it’s not just Democrats; some key Republicans, including Sen. Lindsay Graham (SC) are unhappy about Mukasey’s vagueness on the subject.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which called Mukasey’s nomination “wise” and predicted strong bipartisan support, has stayed mum as the Mukasey fight heats up. So has the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), which has actively opposed many Bush administration judicial nominees.
Ditto the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Congress.
“We certainly aren’t going to say anything before all the answers are in,” said AJ Congress legal director Marc Stern.
The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism may be taking a somewhat more skeptical view as the Mukasey controversy heats up.
“We have been following his testimony closely,” said RAC associate director Mark Pelavin. “Although we do not have a position on the nomination, his testimony does raise some significant questions – both concerning his views on what is and what is not torture, and on his analysis of the limits or lack of limits on Executive power.”