"We're pleased to have such a highly qualified and experienced nominee, whom I fully support," said committee chair Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), in kicking off the 45-minute hearing.
Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders bashed Senate Democrats in Wednesday's White House press briefing, saying they were "abusing Senate procedure to hold up the President's experienced and accomplished nominees so that he can continue his work on behalf of the American people".
Former President Bill Clinton said Monday that wife Hillary's unsteadiness the previous day was prompted by nothing more than dehydration, and that the Democratic presidential nominee had experienced similar episodes in the past.
But, he said, Mr. Termeer and the company's other nominees "are highly experienced and bring the right credentials for the job," while "none of the Icahn nominees have the relevant manufacturing or operational experience that we need".
Ms. Ruemmler said the administration does seek a broad range of life experiences in nominees.
On Monday, Mr. Specter, a veteran of such hearings, said it was his experience that nominees generally answered just enough questions to be confirmed, and Judge Roberts proved no exception.
The biotech firm experienced a jolt of activity on Tuesday after investors learned the billionaire investor asked shareholders to replace three board members with his own nominees.
"The reality is, when you're hiring a pilot at a major carrier, you're probably going to get somebody who walks through the door with 5,000 hours" of experience, the nominee, J. Randolph Babbitt, a former captain at Eastern Airlines, said at his confirmation hearing.
Individuals who remain disconnected in the nomination layer tend to be located in the same place largely on weekdays, while to-be-nominees tend to experience collocation on both weekdays and weekends.
"We are having so much fun collaborating, and have even enjoyed weaving our experience as Oscar nominees into the song".
