http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-sweet04.html"Last week, the Illinois Democratic senators split over confirming Condoleezza Rice for secretary of state. Sen. Dick Durbin said no and Sen. Barack Obama said yes.
Thursday, both senators voted against President Bush's nominee for attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, who was confirmed on a 60-36 roll call. Voting "yes'' were six Democrats and 54 Republicans; voting "no'' were 35 Democrats and an independent.
These two nominations have in common the selection by Bush for his cabinet architects of some of the administration's most controversial strategies: Rice, regarding the Iraq war, and Gonzales, policies that opened the door to the detention and torture of prisoners suspected of being connected to terrorist activities.
Durbin's lack of support for Gonzales, the White House counsel, was telegraphed when he voted against his confirmation in the Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member. From the Senate floor, Durbin said, "At the very least, Mr. Gonzales helped to create a permissive environment that made it more likely that abuses would take place.''"
Well at least Mr. Obama got this one right. What a fine leader Durbin is.