Gonzales debate extended

WASHINGTON – Angered over the Bush administration’s policies on torture, Senate Democrats on Tuesday extended debate over the nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales as U.S. attorney general, delaying his expected confirmation until at least Thursday.

Using one of the few parliamentary tools available to the minority party, the Democratic leadership insisted on holding at least 10 hours of debate over Gonzales, whom they accused of taking part in administration efforts to condone the use of torture on prisoners.

“How can the Senate possibly approve the nomination of Mr. Gonzales as attorney general of the United States, the official who symbolizes our respect for the rule of law, when Mr. Gonzales is the official in the Bush administration who, as White House counsel, advised the president that torture was an acceptable method of interrogation in Afghanistan, Guantanamo and Iraq?” asked Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.

The move was the latest in a string of gestures by Senate Democrats, who had grown incensed over the torture issue as two Cabinet nominees – Gonzales and recently confirmed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice – fielded questions about memos approving harsh treatment of some prisoners.

Democrats initially had praised Gonzales’ nomination, seeing the mild-mannered former Texas Supreme Court judge as a welcome change from the combative John Ashcroft.

But Gonzales angered Democrats on the Judiciary Committee – first by what they considered evasive answers during his confirmation hearings last month, and second by his answers to written questions in which he often responded that he had not conducted a search for requested documents.

“The documents we want may exist, but he’s not going to look for them. There’s nothing more arrogant to say to this body,” Kennedy said. “It’s an insult not just to the Senate, but to the American people.”

Republicans rose to Gonzales’ defense, arguing that his job as White House counsel was to advise the president, not contradict the Justice Department.

“He has been very emphatic about his personal opposition to torture and about the opposition of the administration to torture,” said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the Judiciary Committee chairman.

“This White House has been very cautious – not just this White House but previous White Houses – about not telling the Department of Justice what to say or what not to say, because that would be politicizing the process,” Specter said.

With Democrats holding 44 of the Senate’s 100 seats, Gonzales’ confirmation appears a certainty when it reaches the floor – most likely Thursday. But according to Senate custom, there is no limit on debate, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., requested 10 hours for Democrats.