While the thrust of concern over the Gonzalez nomination deals with the torture memos, his handling of the Kerik nomination for Homeland Security raises serious questions of basic competence and exercise of judgment used in the vetting process performed by Gonzalez. Reporters very easily ascertained Kerik's negatives, some of which were revealed through public records. This demonstrates a lack of care rising above negligence or gross negligence to the level of outright recklessness in the conduct of a routine background investigation that may not have disclosed these facts.
Kerik is a witness with valuable information concerning Gonzalez' fitness for office, an important issue the Senate must consider in its constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on nominations. He should be subpoenaed to testify to the specifics of the vetting process used by Gonzalez. This testimony can then be compared to Gonzalez' testimony and other evidence of record. Questions may relate to:
Did Kerik tell Gonzalez or his representative(s):
-Kerik had associates with mob connections
-Kerik used the 911 rescuers' apartment for sexual liaisons
-Kerik had an arrest warrant for failure to show up for a legal proceeding
-Kerik was sued for interfering with the promotion of a co-worker who criticized Kerik's lover, a subordinate co-worker.
-Kerik was cheating on his wife with 2 mistresses
-Kerik received gifts as a public official and failed to report the gifts, as required by law, a criminal offense
-Kerik forced corrections workers to work on GOP campaigns.
-Kerik made millions in Tazer stock sales right before the stock price dropped.
This is just a sampling of Kerik's negatives. I'm sure there are a hundred such questions to ask. The important thing is the lack of judgment regardless of what Gonzalez knew and when he knew it. If Gonzalez did not know of these facts, he should have known what was easily ascertainable. If he did know, it is a failure of judgment to support the nomination of such a flawed candidate. Even if they cry that Kerik misled or lied to them, Gonzalez got taken and failed. Any way you slice it, it tastes bad.
We have to frame the discussion of Gonzalez' qualifications as inseparable from who Kerik is. And that is the gift that keeps giving, even after the holidays. Thank you, Bernie. Now let's talk about torture.