Sessions’s nomination is likewise supported by President Obama’s former surgeon general, black Alabamian Regina Benjamin; by Alabama state-senate Democratic leader Quinton Ross, also black; and by a host of other black Alabamians of both parties.
Red-state voters surely won’t put up with their senators voting against a colleague for spurious reasons, when these senators are on record praising, liking, and working well with that same man. Florida’s Bill Nelson and Indiana’s Joe Donnelly are known to have an excellent working relationship with Sessions, and Claire McCaskill’s relationship with Sessions is almost as solid. And, of course, even some of the decidedly leftist Democrats now making the most noise against Sessions have said wonderful things about him, on the record, in the past: New York’s Chuck Schumer called him “straightforward and fair,” Vermont’s Pat Leahy called him “wonderful to work with,” and Illinois’s Richard Durbin called him “a man of his word.” Even left-most labor secretary Tom Perez has effusively praised Sessions in multiple forums.
The Democratic senators know that Sessions is no racist. Their voters know that Sessions is no racist. And their voters know that their senators know he is no racist. In fact, as they see Sessions handle himself with courtesy and dignity during next week’s confirmation hearings, those red-state voters will resent, strongly, any attempt to join with NAACP occupiers in smearing the Alabaman.
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