Any clue why Kennedy and Kerry voted for the FDA head

[Mass]

nearly alone among those you can usually rely on?

This does not make any sense to me and I was already grumpy.

(The photos thread was nice).

[TayTay]

1. They took the lean off him because he changed his mind

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/07/18/national/w163726D71.DTL

Crawford's nomination had been put on hold for several months by lawmakers from both parties. The administration promised their concerns would be addressed, in particular those about an emergency contraceptive pill called Plan B. The administration said the FDA would decide by Sept. 1 whether the pill could be sold without a prescription.

"Dr. Crawford is well-qualified to be commissioner," said Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. "He deserves to have full authority as commissioner. It's time for the Senate to give him the title as well as the responsibility."

The most critical comment about Crawford may have come from a Republican, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa.

"The systemic problems at the FDA demand visionary leadership," Grassley said. "Dr. Crawford has not shown me that he is the leader to fix the FDA."

*********************
Crawford had refused to say whether or not he would make a decision on the emergency contraception bill. Once he said he would he got support from key Senators. Kennedy relented and dropped his objections.

[Mass]

2. yes but still a whole bunch of people voted against him

(Durbin, Dorgan. Boxer, ..., all those you imagine + Clinton), but Kennedy and Kerry voted for him.

I was surprised by that.

This said, I am happy to see Crawford will support plan B.