Is S.C. Senator DeMint hold on TSA director justified?

In a news conference, President Barrack Obama admitted that the attempted Christmas bombing on Northwest flight 253 showed that a systemic failure had occurred. However, just a day before, Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano stated that the system had worked. She later clarified that the system worked only after officials became aware of the event.

Accusations began to fly though out the beltway. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) was a recipient of one accusation for placing a hold on Transportation and Security Board Nominee, Erroll Sothers. DeMint placed the hold on Southers following his clearing two committees. DeMint was among two Senators who voted to block him for not answering one specific question on whether Southers planned to authorized unionization, that would lead to collective bargaining, of the TSA. Since Southers refused to answer, DeMint placed a hold on November 29th until Sothers chose to respond to his questions.

Source: examiner.com