Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush weighed in Thursday on the confirmation vote of Loretta Lynch, President Obama’s pick to replace U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, saying that presidents generally have the right to pick their teams.
“Presidents have the right to pick their team, in general,” Mr. Bush said at an event in New Hampshire in video captured by Time. “If someone is supportive of the president’s policies, whether you agree with them or not, there should be some deference to the executive. This should not always be partisan.”
“The longer it takes to confirm her, the longer Eric Holder stays as attorney general — look at it that way,” said Mr. Bush, who is weighing a run for president in 2016.
The long-simmering battle over Ms. Lynch’s nomination once again spilled out into the open Thursday, with the White House accusing the GOP of “duplicity” in blocking the vote, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, saying he would force a vote under the rules if the GOP doesn’t move quickly.
Republicans have delayed action on the nomination until work on an anti-trafficking bill is complete; Democrats are filibustering the bill because of language prohibiting federal money going to abortions except in rare cases.
A spokeswoman for Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the White House is “rewriting history” and that Mr. Reid and the president could have forced the nomination through last year if they wanted to.
SEE ALSO: White House blasts Chuck Grassley over delay in Loretta Lynch nomination
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.