Denver, CO-The Colorado Republican Party displayed true hypocrisy this week when discussing the issue of using the filibuster process to block judicial nominations.

Bob Martinez, Chair of the Colorado Republican Party has gone as far as calling Senator Salazar an obstructionist for taking part on the compromise to save the filibuster process.

"Senator Salazar has been an influential leader in ensuring the government is both effective and fair," said Pat Waak, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. "The unsubstantiated attacks by the Republican Party shows their hypocrisy when it comes to addressing important democratic process."

Republicans in Colorado should be cautious of throwing out these harsh criticisms of use of the filibuster process. According to Senate voting records, Senator Allard has a pattern of using the same filibuster process he criticizes and threatens to eliminate.

During the Clinton Administration Senator Allard voted to filibuster three Clinton nominees. Two of the nominations were for judicial appointments and one was for executive nominee David Satcher.

During the 2000 debate on the nomination of Marsha Berzon to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals 86 members of the Senate voted to close the debate and give Ms. Berzon an up or down vote. However, Senator Allard was one of 13 members of the Senate to vote for a filibuster to block Senate approval.

"The Berzon nomination is just one of several examples where Senator Allard supported using the filibuster process to block judicial nominations," said Joelle Martinez, Communications Director for the Colorado Democratic Party. "Senator Allard should recall his use of the filibuster process during discussion to eliminate the process."

Senator Allard also voted to deny an up or down vote on the nomination of Richard Paez. In fact, Allard voted to indefinitely postpone a vote on Paez’s nomination after the Republican attempt to filibuster was broken by a cloture vote to end the debate.

"It is evident that the Republicans support the filibuster process when it is implemented to block Democratic nominations, but they threaten to eliminate the process when Democrats use it to block ultra-conservative judges from being approved," said Waak.

The fact is that both parties use the filibuster process in order to maintain the minority voice in the Senate. The Republicans, however, only want the Republicans to be able to use the filibuster process to block nominations. This is a case of it is okay to use it if benefits Republicans, but if it benefits the Democrats it must be eliminated.

"Democrats are grateful to have the leadership of Senator Salazar in Washington," said Pat Waak, "His values and dedication to the democratic process is exactly why the people of Colorado elected him to represent them."