Likely New AG Nominee Holder Spoke of Holding Weepy Reno in Arms
EmailIn April 2000, then-Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder appeared on "Good Morning America" where he discussed the controversial raid on the home of Elian Gonzalez’s Miami relatives to seize the child and return him to Cuba.
And he told Diane Sawyer about an unusual behind-the-scenes moment he shared with Attorney General Janet Reno.
"At the conclusion of this, I closed the door, at the time of the raid, and I held the attorney general in my arms, and she wept," Holder said. "She did not want this to happen. She cares a great deal about that community, and hoped and prayed that there was a way in which this thing could have been worked out, short of the enforcement action that she very reluctantly had to order."
Holder has now emerged as President-elect Obama’s top pick to be attorney general. President-elect Obama has made it clear he’d like to appoint Holder, and Holder has expressed interest in the job, though the process is still moving forward with vetting and transition officials assessing how difficult Holder’s confirmation hearing might be, given his involvement in the Gonzalez saga and the Marc Rich pardon.
The early word is he seems confirmable.
- jpt
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Is this one of the change Obama promised?
Change from Clinton era to Obama Administration.
I guess the public really want to see REAL change!
Posted by: Jen | November 18, 2008, 6:12 pm 6:12 pm
Yes Jen, this is the change we were promised. When you do not have the experience needed to do a job, you surround yourself with those that can.
Posted by: Shawn | November 18, 2008, 6:26 pm 6:26 pm
Obama promised change in policy from Bush, not change from the boom times of Clinton. So you clowns expect him not to hire anybody that worked for Clinton? If he does not hire any Democrats that worked for Clinton, who do you expect him to hire? You expect him to manufacture people from whole cloth? You mindless clowns.
Posted by: Kevin | November 18, 2008, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm
Now speculation that Hillary may turn down SOS and that Obama has not officially offered it to her, hmm I bet he picks everyone from clinton administration except a clinton just to stick it to Hillary. For an adminstration he criticized during the primaries Obama is sure loving the people that worked in it.
Posted by: rachel | November 18, 2008, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
When you have no experience, you need to rely on the experiences of others, I understand this. But, somehow, I don’t believe that this is the “Change” that the American people were counting on. BHO led all of his folloewrs to believe that the “Change” would be real change, not a retreat to the Clinton era. He NEVER led anyone to believe that this is what he intended to do. “Change you can count on”!
Posted by: roscoe02 | November 18, 2008, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
Oh gosh, please call me when the adults have come back to town. If I read one more person beat the dead horse about how hiring people that used to work in the Clinton administration is not “change” I am going to be ill.
I don’t recall Pres. Obama ever saying that he wouldn’t hire anyone from the Clinton era. In fact, when the question came up, he said that he wanted to find talent wherever he could get it. So are the people who dared to be Democrats, and dared to be hired by the Clinton administration forever shunned to oblivion?
Give me a break. Pundits keep crowing about how this will be the most difficult presidential transition in modern history. Color me surprised that the Pres. elect chooses to surround himself with people that have experience, and expertise in what they do because, shock, horror, gasp, they used to work for another Democrat 8 years ago.
Some people really do need to grow up.
Posted by: TRW | November 18, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Kevin —- He promised change! Change from the Washington Establishment. So far, there has been no evidence of change. It is simply a revitalization of the Clinton Establishment! Is there no one else out there in the world to choose from??? Get real! The options are vast, beyond all immagination! But we have someone in charge of this transition who is clueless, inexperienced, and at a loss for knowing what to do. He realizes that his political associates from Chicago would be out of their realm. So, he has no alternatives than the HILLBILLY associates. What kind of change is this?
Posted by: roscoe02 | November 18, 2008, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
Please, no FUD, people. Give our new leader time and keep the faith. What you perceive now may turn out a lot different in the future.
Definitely for the better, too.
Posted by: Majus | November 18, 2008, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Any way this unfolds the Democrats will be in power at least for the next decade.
The republican are in total disarray and the GOP circular firing squad has formed and the shooting has ensued.
Independent Party, Green Party, Libertarians, Here’s your chance to compete with the Democrats.
The republicans are in a tailspin and still out of touch, clueless and so rigid as ever.
LtGov Steele is beginning to see that the big 1000 pound gorilla is still in the GOP tent.
Note to Steele. Follow Powell’s lead and get out.
When Powell was considering runnging for Pres. the GOP threw him under the bus before he was even on the bus.
Posted by: Omentum | November 18, 2008, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
TRW— Please, the sermon was complete and consise for neqarly 2 years. “I will say what I have said many times before, I will bring change to Washington”. The change he sold to the people was not to rehire the Clinton cronies. The change was not to hire Hillary. The change was to bring new life a new administration. Not to resussitate a dead administration!
Posted by: roscoe02 | November 18, 2008, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
Every single presidential candidate who ran, including all the Republicans, offered “change”. Most of them were able to articulate what they meant by that, except Obama. Now you are learning that his “change” was just the same as all the others – he’s not George W. Bush.
What you are also learning is just how much of a hypocritical liar he is. He had you all convinced, totally convinced, that voting for Hillary Clinton was voting for more of the same. Fools.
Posted by: Keith | November 18, 2008, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm
Quit griping about your version of “change.” We could have had Sarah Palin and her wolf shooting cronies. The Clintons chose the best they could find, and Obama agrees. Why should he not raid the Clinton brain trust?
Posted by: Shockolit | November 18, 2008, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
HMMMM….WHAT THE “OBAMiNATION” MEANT BY CHANGE IS THE SLOW ELIMINATION OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS!!!
Posted by: CYNTHIA F. | November 18, 2008, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
I love seeing all the Obama supporters crying foul. Did you all really expect change? Obama better get it right it seems he wants everyone on the clinton administration except the real clintons
Posted by: rachel | November 18, 2008, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
I don’t understand…we vote for change and we get another four years of Clinton administration members?
If that’s what we wanted, why didn’t we just vote for Hillary?
I’m wondering where the REAL change is?
Posted by: Suzanne | November 18, 2008, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm
How Loooooooooooooong does the media keep rehashing old stories?
So the guy got a criminal pardoned, how many lawyers( worth their salt) have not freed a guilty person?
And Elian was an undocumented immigrant, while the story is touching, it is done, and over, and Elian is probably a lawyer himself by now, I hope.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
Posted by: How Long? | November 18, 2008, 8:57 pm 8:57 pm
Eric Holder is the attorney who helped Clinton rush through the Marc Rich pardon…..and this is change we can believe in???????
Are you kidding? Eric Holder is the BEST candidate for AG???? The guy who made possible the pardon of Marc Rich???
If Obama keeps this up, he is going to lose our confidence even before he gets into office.
Posted by: Suzanne | November 18, 2008, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
Why didn’t Janet Reno cry in Waco,Tex. when she had women and children burned to death?She was so hell bent on getting that so called cult down that she had military forces ram and punch holes with tanks into their home based church.Their blood is on her hands,yet she cries about one Cuban boy who needed to be sent back “alive” to his father in Cuba? I live here in Texas.. watched it all…so don’t give me any..but the children were abused bull crap!May Reno burn in hell along with Bush Jr.
Posted by: orangecat | November 18, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
Orangecat: Who is Bush Jr.? I feel that people along with the media don’t have the right to be critical of a person that they can’t even get his name right. He has been the President for the last eight years and has NEVER been in his life bush jr.
Posted by: Shawn | November 18, 2008, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
Just four years past…
Any way this unfolds the Republicans will be in power at least for the next decade.
The Democrates are in total disarray and the Dem circular firing squad has formed and the shooting has ensued.
Independent Party, Green Party, Libertarians, Here’s your chance to compete with the Republicans.
The Democrates are in a tailspin and still out of touch, clueless and waffling as ever.
Howard Dean the III is beginning to see that the big 1000 pound gorilla is still in the Dem tent.
Note to Dean. Follow Powell’s lead and get out.
There have been 18 Republican residents and 15 Democratic Presidents…
Glad I didn’t vote for Jimmy Carter the 2nd! Two years to go and the stampede will be on!
Posted by: EnergyMain | November 18, 2008, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
Energymain……?? The Democrats won!!
Posted by: orangecat | November 18, 2008, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
Could we justlook head in a bright future. Or are we too small minded and backwards.
Posted by: sARA | November 19, 2008, 12:35 am 12:35 am
Could we just wait until the man gets in office before we judge? Would you be happy if he hired someone like me? You know, unheard of, with two years of college, working for county government? Yay! Nicole Dawson for Attorney General. Would that be change you can believe?
Posted by: Nicole Dixson | November 19, 2008, 12:39 am 12:39 am
Isn’t this the Holder fellow that helped pardon Marc Rich? The scoundrel who fled to Switzerland after being charged with tax fraud, evading taxes and illegal oil deals with Iran when they were holding American citizens as hostages? This is sad!
Posted by: Mihan | November 19, 2008, 5:20 am 5:20 am
Hope and change.
Posted by: Joanne600 | November 19, 2008, 7:37 am 7:37 am
The more things “change” the more they stay the same. LOL.
That’s what you get for worshipping an idol with feet of clay: all idols fall down!
This one hasn’t even gotten into the White House temple, but he’s already proving he’s a politician and not the promised Messiah.
That hissing noise you hear is the sound of Obama’s rhetoric balloon deflating.
Posted by: J Cline | November 19, 2008, 8:07 am 8:07 am
I think Eric Holder should be confirmed as Attorney General because he has demonstrated his personal courage, i.e., ANYONE who would take Bigfoot (aka ‘Shakes the Clown’) in their arms has nerves of steel and fears NOTHING! LOL
Posted by: Mark Jessup | November 19, 2008, 8:58 am 8:58 am
Holder holding a sobbing Janet Reno, paints a not so pretty picture. Here is a woman who is suppose to be a top law enforcer crying , over her own actions.. oh boohoohoo. How many others did you cause to cry Janet Reno, over Waco Diaster?
Posted by: Anne | November 19, 2008, 9:14 am 9:14 am
Did Reno weep after she burned alive 76 American citizens at Waco including 21 children?
One of the excuses Reno had for murdering them was the false claim that they had illegal weapons.
Ironic isn’t it that they were slaugheterd for availing themselves of their 2nd Amendment rights? The Davidians bought the weapons precisely because they feared the Clinton / Reno fascism.
Holder is notorious for his anti-gun fanaticism. Wake up people, your erosion of rights is about to begin
Posted by: Fred Schwartz | November 19, 2008, 9:17 am 9:17 am
How the left criticized Pres. Bush for picking advisors and Cabinet posts people that served under Regan and Bush sr. Now the Chosen One, Our Lord and Savior b.o. picks Former Clinton Aids and there is no problem?
Posted by: Kurt Anderson | November 19, 2008, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Change = Clinton Cabinet
Posted by: Superpower | November 20, 2008, 4:19 am 4:19 am
Eric Holder, didn’t he help Janet Reno burn those people alive in Waco Texas just because they didn’t like the way they were worshipping?
Posted by: Craig Bethenhoff | November 20, 2008, 9:05 am 9:05 am
Kevin, you guys all ridiculed Mc
Cain because he was “old and out of touch”. Well, guess what? All these people your Saviour is picking are “old and out of touch”, too.
Posted by: Sue - FL | November 20, 2008, 9:08 am 9:08 am
What do we gain by knowing this? I’m tired of hearing about Sarah Palin’s baby. I’m tired of hearing about John McCain’s divorce. I’m tired of hearing about Cindy McCain’s drug addiction. I’m tired of hearing about Obama’s coke use as a student. I’m tired of hearing about Michelle’s Princeton thesis.
Can we move on to the problem solving part of politics and spend less time on the personal drivel?
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | November 20, 2008, 9:38 am 9:38 am
Two years of this guy and a Dem dominated congress will bring the country back to it’s senses. Midterms will be a sweep..I hope the lefties push Barry real hard to fulfill his campaign promises..Heck of a show coming up..I got my wide screen and popcorn ready..LOL
Posted by: Mike | November 20, 2008, 9:57 am 9:57 am
GO OBAMA ! You’re the ONE ! I believe in what you are doing for our country. This is a very unstable time in our history. We need the best cabinet and the most honest and hard-working people that is available. Thank you for doing your best for us. God Bless you and God Bless the USA ********
Posted by: Annie | November 20, 2008, 10:44 am 10:44 am
HAHAHAHAHA Heres exactly what you fools voted for (change)this idot is just like every other politcian to date who promises you one thing then does the oppisite.You should have already known this by the way JOE THE PLUMBER was treated, if you thought that was something just wait and see whats next I GARUNTEE YOU WONT LIKE IT.The only change you will get is whats left under your cushions of you chair.YOU IDOTS VOTED THIS IDOT IN NOW REAP WHAT YOU SOW and shut up
Posted by: james | November 20, 2008, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Obamas change coming soon! Yes things are bad, but Obama is going to change that. He is going to make things worse.
You can not tax the country into prosperity, Michigan is living proof of such an idiot idea.
Posted by: Mltucker | November 20, 2008, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
What Change? Obama has pick over 80% of the same cabinet members/political players during the Clinton Admin? Or does Change mean increased taxes, more bailouts and more spending???
Posted by: Tom | November 20, 2008, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm
Obama will certainly bring about change, but give him some time. He’s not a magician to bring the country back to what it was when Clinton left. The Bush administration(the trouble maker) must be laughing while he walks out that door and leave such a messed up country and the whole world suffering as a result of the games he played. That’s where the inexperience began, and not with the incoming president.
Posted by: Sandra | November 20, 2008, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
As was once said THE MORE THINGS CHANGE THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME There will be no real changes in the DISTRICT of CRINIMALS
Posted by: FLU-BIRD | November 23, 2008, 12:19 am 12:19 am