Senators Spar Over Kagan

In a sneak peek of what will surely be a contentious confirmation battle for Elena Kagan, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ), both from the Senate Judiciary Committee, appeared on CBS' Face the Nation to discuss the Supreme Court nominee's prospects for confirmation. Feinstein defended Kagan against former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s accusation of her being anti-military and said, “This is an inordinately qualified woman. [I]t’s not easy to be summa cum laude from Yale, go to Oxford, be summa cum laude when you get your law degree from Harvard, be professor of law at the University of Chicago, dean of the Harvard Law School, adviser to the president, and the top lawyer for the government before the Supreme Court.” Kyl was less enthusiastic, saying despite the fact that he voted in favor of Kagan’s appointment as solicitor general, he won’t necessarily vote in favor this time. Kyl has also shown concern for Kagan’s lack of experience on the bench.