Hillary Clinton still a lightning rod

Rumors abounded yesterday that NY Senator Hillary Clinton shared a tense moment with Texas Sen. John Cornyn at the inauguration festivities.

Cornyn, a Republican put a hold on Clinton’s voice-vote nomination as the next Secretary of State.

He argued that more probing is needed into former President Bill Clinton’s finances.
Those questions will draw a three-hour debate on the Senate floor.

No one doubts that Sen. Clinton will be confirmed. But conservative leaders will now be able to say that they didn’t simply rubber stamp her nomination.

Clinton has been a target for the right for decades. Despite the generally bi-partisan tone the last few weeks, this gesture suggests that old habits die hard.

Unless Republicans raise some new information (or allegation), Cornyn’s move may look less like a principled stand and more like a petty jab.