Posted on 11/16/2005 4:21:08 PM PST by Aetius
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005 11:02 a.m. EST Sen. Reid: Alito Fails to Diversify Court
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday said he has "significant concerns" about Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, calling President Bush's latest choice one of the most conservative judges in the United States.
"A picture of Sam Alito is emerging that may explain why the extreme right-wing is popping champagne corks," Reid, D-Nev., said in a Senate speech, referring to a 20-year-old document in which Alito asserted "the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion."
Abortion rights activists are concerned that Alito and recently confirmed Chief Justice John Roberts would move the Supreme Court to the right and perhaps overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established abortion rights.
Alito touted his anti-abortion work in the solicitor general's office in his application to be deputy assistant attorney general in 1985. That was work, the younger Alito said, "in which I personally believe very strongly."
Alito, who has served on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the last 15 years, distanced himself from the document Tuesday. Democratic senators said that he assured them he would not act as an advocate on the court.
"I will work to ensure that Judge Alito is treated with civility and respect," Reid said. "But there is nothing disrespectful about an open and fair-minded review of a nominee's approach to the Constitution and his commitment to core American values like equality, privacy and fairness."
Bush nominated Alito last month as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has been a crucial swing vote on contentious issues, including abortion, during her 24-year high court career.
Alito was Bush's second choice after White House counsel Harriet Miers withdrew under withering criticism from conservatives.
"Harriet Miers was forced to withdraw by conservative activists who want to change the legal landscape of America," Reid said. "They decided she was inadequately radical or insufficiently aggressive for their purposes, so they gave her the boot."
Reid also complained that Bush did not consult with Democrats about Alito's appointment, saying he got a "a pro forma telephone call about an hour" before the Halloween nomination. He also said Bush passed up the chance to put another woman or the first Hispanic on the high court, instead choosing a white male.
"The appointment of Judge Alito largely fails to diversify the court," Reid said.
As Reid and other Democrats planned a coordinated assault on the conservative judge from the Senate floor, Alito was continuing his third week of private meetings with Republican and Democratic senators.
That of course is code for a commitment to judicially imposed gay marriage, judicially imposed abortion on demand, and judicially-sanctioned racial preferences; all things people of Reid's ilk desperately want as policy but are afraid to openly campaign on.
The part about diversity shouldn't even warrant a reply, but sadly its a sign of leftist success that 'diversity' has become the number one state god to be worshipped. Still, if Bush gets another nomination, then I hope he gives serious consideration to non-white males Edith Jones, Emilio Garza, Janice Rogers, or Priscilla Owen. Of course, none of these would contribute to diversity either since they don't share Reid's leftwing values, but it would make for good television to see a despicable creature like Ted Kennedy attacking someone like Brown who lifted herself out of poverty, or Garza, who would would be the first Hispanic on the High Court.
It's not a represenative branch. Diversity matters not. Knowledge of the law and the integrity to follow it is all that matters.
I dare you to filibuster, Harry!
Your two sentences are way too deep for Reid to follow--LOL!
Any miniute now Reid will produce the Constitution's source demanding diversity on the court. HONEST
"The appointment of Judge Alito largely fails to diversify the court," Reid said.
What a doofus. There's nothing, anywhere, that says the court is supposed to be "diversified." It's supposed to interpret the Constitution, not be some sort of rainbow play group.
When did SCOTUS become a political diversity organization?
How is it possible to put "one of the most any kind of judges in the United States" on the Supreme Court without "diversifying" it? Doesn't diversity mean "different"? An extremist is the best way to increase diversity!
So now, since we've heard that "diversity" is a requirement for the Supreme Court, the MSM will demand that this "law" needs to be followed or the nasty Republicans are trying to get away with skirting the law? I can see it now.
"diversification?"
Hey Reid, if ya want diversification, join the French Foreign Legion! LMAO
Semper Fi,
Kelly
If Reid says it then the Republicans will follow their dog to get the bone.
They (the Republicans) will be on their knees in front waiting for their piece of meat or party invitation. So we just lost another one. Because the Senate Republicans have decided to go over to the democrats and have NO Backbone and are cowards.
"Senator" Reid fails to diversify the senate. Send him packing. Back to Nevada with you, Harry, you undiverse person, you.
How many black guys did Kennedy, Roosevelt, Johnson, or Clinton put on the court?
Diversify the idiot Reid. Asshole Daschle wasn't that dumb.
That's true. Afterall, there are only two Hispanic members of the Senate, whereas if that esteemed body 'looked like America', then there would be 14 or so. So Reid really should retire and find some non-white male Nevadan to run for his seat.
BTTT!
I swear, it took me a good three days to come down from my Alito high. :) I couldn't stop smiling.
It was an excellent appointment.
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