As Republicans rallied around a call for a special prosecutor investigation of recent intelligence leaks, they went back a few years in Senate history to accuse both the President and Vice President of political hypocrisy.
"If the shoe was on the other foot, you and everyone else on the other side would be crying to high heaven to appoint a special prosecutor," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to Democrats at a contentious Senate hearing.
Graham had done his research, as he noted how two Senators named Obama and Biden had both called for special prosecutors to investigate several high profile matters in the Bush Administration - and yet Graham said with indignation in his voice - now Democrats were arguing there was no need for such a probe in the Obama Administration.
"You're resisting what Senator Obama and Senator Biden suggested was in the public interest," Graham said to fellow Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“I guess the difference is we’re supposed to trust Democratic administrations and you can’t trust Republican administrations," Graham added later.
At the same hearing, Attorney General Holder strongly disputed the GOP charges, as he defended the abilities of the two U.S. attorneys he appointed last Friday to run the investigation into the leaks.
The hearing was a bit different than one Holder had last week in the House, as GOP Senators focused their attacks more on intelligence leaks, rather than on questions about Operation Fast and Furious.
It led to one distinct moment of fireworks, as Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) repeatedly skewered Holder over both Fast and Furious and the intelligence leaks issues.
"You leave me no alternative but to join those who have called on you to resign," said Cornyn.
Holder was having none of it.
"I don't have any intention of resigning," said Holder in an aggravated tone, as he labeled Cornyn's attacks "breathtaking" in terms of their inaccuracies.
Over on the Senate floor, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) tried to force a vote on a resolution dealing with a special prosecutor, but Democrats blocked its consideration.
It was a big change from a week ago, when members of both parties joined to denounce the rash of leaks, but stayed away from political jabs at the other.
And it may well be an indicator of where we're going in terms of political fights this election year - while Fast and Furious may get a lot of interest, intelligence leaks and their possible source inside the Obama Administration may win out as the focus for senior Republicans.
