Garland, Tanden and the application of double standards by GOP lawmakers
By Dan Balz
Feb. 23, 2021 at 12:44 p.m. EST
Hypocrisy has never been in short supply in Washington, or politics in general for that matter. The application of double standards is time honored if not necessarily to be admired. So it is not a surprise to see the phenomenon on display in the confirmation process of two of President Bidens nominees.
One nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, is sailing toward confirmation as the next attorney general. Another, Neera Tanden, is on the defensive as the nominee to become director of the Office of Management and Budget. What they share at this moment is the capacity of Republicans for compartmentalization and deliberate memory loss.
Garland was greeted warmly on Monday by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. During a day of testimony, various Republicans heaped praise on him and predicted he would have no trouble winning support, including theirs, to take over a troubled Justice Department at a time of great challenge.
Garland took on all manner of questions friendly, pointed, philosophical, specific, general, sneaky. He displayed intellect, temperament, character and, in an exchange about how his grandparents fleeing religious persecution and emigrating to America shapes his commitment to give something back to this country, genuine emotion.
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/garland-tanden-and-the-application-of-double-standards-by-gop-lawmakers/2021/02/23/bb629c48-75f4-11eb-8115-9ad5e9c02117_story.html