Senator Ben Nelson will vote against Kagan

The Nebraska Dem won't filibuster Obama's second Supreme Court nominee, but he has to prove that he's no liberal

Published July 30, 2010 10:15PM (EDT)

Elena Kagan and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.)
Elena Kagan and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.)

Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson, America's Most Annoying Senator, will vote against Elena Kagan, because -- well, the "reason" he gives is completely unimportant, because he is just voting against her to prove that he is not a socialist, like the president.

Nelson will vote for cloture, though, so this is an entirely symbolic gesture, and what it symbolizes is, "Ben Nelson is an obnoxious political coward."


By Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene

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Ben Nelson D-neb. Democratic Party Elena Kagan U.s. Senate