Posted on 07/23/2005 11:35:06 PM PDT by churchillbuff
Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn says he needs to hear more from Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. before he's ready to decide whether to vote for his confirmation.
Coburn is a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He says Roberts ducked a couple of his questions Friday during a 45-minute meeting. He says Roberts wasn't comfortable talking about how his Catholic faith influences his life and work.
Coburn says he plans to ask the questions Roberts wouldn't answer again at their next meeting.
He says he thinks it's inappropriate to ask a judge how he would rule in a future case. But he Coburn says its possible to figure out what's in a nominee's heart by asking the right questions.
I would be surprised if Coburn ends up not supporting Roberts.
Hmm - - Part of me likes Roberts, part is concerned that he referred to the US as a "constitutional democracy."
I'm still undecided.
"I would be surprised if Coburn ends up not supporting Roberts."
Me, too, but articles that have been slanting Coburn's comments to support Judge Roberts have been just that. Coburn looks like he's going to want more than 'can't answer that, I'm a judge, donchaknow?' And I don't blame him.
Brownback and Coburn are the best of the best of conservatives and they are on the judiciary committee looking out for conservatives.
Their line of questioning is what to watch for and how Roberts responds to it will be interesting.
One of Frist's few good moves was putting Coburn on the judiciary committee. He is fearless and fights for what is right.
Maybe to you they are but not to me. I supported them both even though I am not as conservative socially as they are. Neither could win an election, even in those red states, with just the votes of those as far to the right as they are. They need the Rehnquist pragmatic solid conservative wing just as we need the Christian right.
I do not like the fact that I would support someone in the mold of those two for SCOTUS but they would not support someone less then a "movement conservative" who thinks like I do.
Of course it is entirely possible that Roberts is another Scalia. We do not know. But I think that we can be certain that at "worst" he is another Rehnquist. I only wish that will be good enough for those that see everything in black and white with zero shades of gray.
If Roberts is "another Rehnquist" as some have suggested, I think I could settle for that..
I *am* a little anxious about long term effects he might have..
Definitely. I really appreciate this from Coburn.
I would be more than stunned if Coburn asked this type of question during formal hearings.
As I recall, Coburn got there without RNC backing in the primary. And he tried to boot Gingrich because he thought Newt was too soft. He's not willing to carry water for RNC Establishment types.
I sincerely hope that Roberts becomes, as a result of these questions, a public conservative or public moderate, but not a public spectacle. And even though I want to know WTF his stance really is on the Constitution, I would prefer that there were no hearings, but as I mentioned elsewhere, simply written questions followed by an up-or-down vote.
Very well said, FRiend.
I do not want to perpetuate this double standard with help from those on our side. The standard should be qualifications for the bench and deference to the President.
Roberts should have told him to piss up a rope. That is completely out of bounds.
Great response SoCar. I couldn't have said it better myself. Coburn needs to stop playing games like this. He's no better than Schumer if he demands Roberts think exactly like he does or else.
I guess serious conservatives like Coburn weren't around when Ginsburg was on the "hot seat".
A Republican takes his job seriously when it comes to upholding the Constitution, and you bash him for it?
Folks like you make the GOP weak.
I agree. If Schumer had asked him about his Catholic faith, we would've been outraged. Why is it okay if Coburn does?
He deserves an up and down vote, but only deserves to be confirmed if he is a strict constitutionalist.
That said, my gut tells me he's a Rehnquist clone.
To be fair, it's perfectly natural to interview Judge Roberts and find out more about what he thinks and then decide. On the surface, however, he seems a rational, sensible choice...just there isn't that much to base that opinion on out there.
Regards, Ivan
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