The agency was conceived and built by Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard Law professor and expert on the effects of bankruptcy on families. Warren is expected to be the Democratic nominee facing Brown in his reelection bid; it will likely be one of the most watched Senate campaigns in the country in November.
Brown, breaking with party leaders, yesterday defended the president’s decision.
“He is the right person to lead the agency and help protect consumers from fraud and scams,’’ Brown said in a statement. “While I would have strongly preferred that it go through the normal confirmation process, unfortunately the system is completely broken.’’
The decision to install Cordray without Senate approval under the constitutional provision for making appointments when lawmakers are in recess was an audacious opening salvo in Obama’s reelection strategy of demonizing Congress.
The president, announcing his decision before a political rally-like crowd, seemed to welcome a contentious second session of the 112th Congress, in which any attempts at bipartisan compromise appear in danger of being lost in all-out election-year war.
Obama said he had looked for opportunities to work with Congress. But, he said, “I am not going to stand by while a minority in the Senate puts party ideology ahead of the people we were elected to serve.’’
Republicans have contended there is too little oversight over the new agency. They blocked Cordray’s confirmation from being considered by the full Senate. Last month, Democrats mustered a 53-45 vote to do so but failed to win the filibuster-proof threshold of 60 votes to confirm Cordray.
The president portrayed Cordray as his hand-appointed protector of consumers. He wasted no time in painting Republican opposition to Cordray as another sign of the party putting the interests of Wall Street above the concerns of ordinary Americans.
