Some women’s groups are coming to Eric Holder’s aid!

Holder may have a tough time with Republicans when he heads to Congress for confirmation as our next attorney general. They likely will complain about his role in granting several last-minute pardons during President Clinton’s last days in office – including financier Marc Rich. They want to be sure that, unlike the Bush administration, the person at the helm of the Justice Department has the guts to say "no" to the president when necessary.

So far there hasn’t been too much noise in opposition to Holder, but just in case, several Democrats and groups are taking to the microphones to voice their support, including The National Women’s Law Center, which works to expand opportunities for women and girls in the United States.

NWLC Co-President Marcia Greenberger joined Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-RI, Benjamin Cardin, D-MD, and civil-rights leaders Wednesday to push for a Senatorial confirmation. One of her main arguments was that Holder has worked to advance the rights and protections of women and minorities.

"He has a strong record with regard to combating violence against women, protecting victims of bias-motivated crimes targeting gender or sexual orientation, enforcing civil-rights protections and increasing diversity in the legal profession," Greenberger said. And that includes making the fight against domestic violence a priority when he was the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, helping form a nonprofit organization to increase diversity within the legal profession, and supporting legislation that would add bias of gender and sexual orientation to federal hate-crime laws.

"Mr. Holder’s nomination could not come at a more crucial time. Over the past eight years the Department of Justice has failed to fulfill its mission of protecting and enforcing the legal rights of all Americans, and women and their families have suffered mightily as a result." Let’s hope Greenberger’s right on the money.