WSJ: Sen. Levin's Dual Standards For Confirming Cabinet Nominees

With Chuck Hagel’s nomination for Sec. of Defense heading to a floor vote on Thursday, the Wall Street Journal has uncovered Sen. Carl Levin’s (D-Mich.) dual standards for confirming cabinet nominees. 

For example, when President George W. Bush nominated John Bolton for Ambassador to the UN in 2005, Levin encouraged his fellow Democrats to pull out all stops to delay the confirmation.

Said Levin then: “Every member should add his or her voice to the demand for the production of relevant documents which Senators need to decide on confirmation or for any other legitimate reason.”

But just days ago, as Hagel was barely squeaking past Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee who wanted more financial documents from the nominee, Levin said:  “The committee cannot have two different sets of financial disclosure standards for nominees, one for Senator Hagel and one for other nominees.”  

Ironically, it seems like Levin’s the one using different standards.