Posted on 01/20/2006 5:48:42 PM PST by Kaslin
U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) on Thursday said he plans to vote against Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito because the judge is "itching to overturn Roe v. Wade."
Kennedy explained his position on Alito's confirmation, which is expected sometime next week, during a speech to the liberal Center for American Progress. The group, founded by John Podesta, who served as the chief of staff to President Bill Clinton, opposes Alito's confirmation because it fears Alito would cause "a profound shift in the ideological balance of the Court."
Kennedy summed up liberal talking points against Alito, touching on several aspects of the judge's record and noting that his views on women's rights "should give every woman pause" because he is "itching to overturn Roe v. Wade," the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.
Alito's record is "clear and ominous," Kennedy said, and he should not be confirmed considering the "new attacks on the progress we have made in civil rights." He was referring to President Bush's authorization of secret, warrant-less wiretaps of Americans with suspected ties to al Qaeda.
The Senate should reject Alito's confirmation, the Massachusetts senator said, even though several Democrats have declared that they would not support a filibuster of the nominee and at least one, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, has said he will vote in favor of the confirmation.
Noticeably absent from Kennedy's speech was any reference to Alito's membership in the controversial group Concerned Alumni of Princeton. Alito was at one time a member of the group, which reportedly opposed affirmative action efforts at Princeton.
Kennedy grilled Alito on his membership in the group during Senate hearings, but the nominee said he had no specific recollection of the group. He guessed that he would have joined because of the group's opposition to Princeton's decision to ban the ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) from campus.
Kennedy came under fire from conservatives last week for his own membership in the Owl Club at Harvard. Until this week, Kennedy had reportedly been paying the $100 annual dues to the club that does not allow women to join.
Kennedy did not take questions from the standing room-only audience or reporters following his speech.
I pray he does just that!
Maybe the fat drunk was itching when he overturned his car and killed that young woman?
I knew there was something about Judge Alito I liked!
I hope Alito stays itchy.
Incidentally, Teddy's itching as well...but in his case, they have ointments to take care of it.
Sam Alito would be itching to kick your big fat a$$.
Happy Hour at Sea World?
Of course not, as he didn't vote for John Roberts, or even the then-obscure David Souter (who turned out to be mostly liberal).
You and me both!
I am also hoping Alito is itching to turn over Kennedy.
Let's see... just when does the Statue of Limitations run out for vehicular homicide?
Ted Kennedy- drowning women and sorrows since 1969.
Scartch the itch Sam. I wonder if I'll see Sam at the March for Life on Monday?
Senator Drunken Murderer bloviates again. Film at 11.
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