For Immediate Release
February 18, 2003

Press Briefing Excerpt by Ari Fleischer 02/18/03

Click here for full transcript. Q Thank you. Change to Miguel Estrada. Is the Miguel Estrada nomination now dead? What can the President do to bring the nomination to the Senate floor for a vote? And does he plan to withdraw the nomination?

MR. FLEISCHER: No, the nomination is alive and kicking. And it remains to be seen whether or not the obstructionist Democratic tactics, which are exceedingly rare and never before been successful, will be continued. I think this is a decision that some Democrats have to make.

Some Democrats view the lesson of the last election is to go out and to run as far to the left as possible. The reemergence of the liberal wing of the Democrat Party is in full swing, which is making many of the moderates in the Democratic Party increasingly uncomfortable. And so we will see whether or not the Democrats continue with the obstructionist tactics. And the President remains fully, 100 percent dedicated to the confirmation of Miguel Estrada.