Hatch supports Holder because he likes Obama.

On Friday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that Obama’s Attorney General pick, Eric Holder, would be the most likely of the Obamakins to be blocked by the minority.

“You know, beyond that, I don’t anticipate trouble for the new president’s nominees,” McConnell said on National Public Radio on Friday. “I think most of them are people that we’re familiar with and have outstanding records.”

McConnell said Holder “has got serious questions” to answer about his role in President Clinton’s pardon of Marc Rich and “some other matters.”

Some other matters? Like the taxpayer-funded thugs whom Holder helped embolden to deport young Elian Gonzalez to Cuba? And what was his role in burning up that religious cult, the Branch Davidians, in Waco, ’93? He was Janet Reno’s main squeeze at Justice.

Okay, so many of us, including Senator McConnell have serious questions about Holder and his fitness to serve as Attorney General. Orrin Hatch, though, does not.

The all-powerful Republican and former Judiciary Committee chairman has told The Hill that he supports Holder.

“I intend to,” said Hatch.

When Reagan was President, I trusted Senator Hatch; he was the best that stood opposite the two main Dem gadflies on the committee he’d later chair: the one who liked his Scotch and the other, more smarmy one, whom we’ll soon call, Mr. Vice President.

Now this?

“I start with the premise that the president deserves the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think politics should be played with the attorney general,” he said.

“I like Barack Obama and want to help him if I can.”

It’s a lot like Chris Matthews said,

This country needs a successful presidency.

The problem is, Senator Hatch, your duty to your State of Utah and to the country is not to accept Holder on the basis of your fondness for Obama and desire to help him succeed. You ought instead to examine Holder’s fitness for office as you learn from the information presented at his Judiciary Committee hearing.

Nice guy that he may be, Obama is fundamentally wrong on many things; on these things, we should push back.