Posted on 07/24/2005 4:08:32 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Some pro-abortion groups are fretting about the pro-life activities of Supreme Court nominee Judge John Roberts wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts.
But no less a pro-abortion liberal than Senator Ted Kennedy told reporters this week that Jane Roberts' anti-abortion work "ought to be out of bounds."
According to the New York Times, some pro-lifers think her activities provide a clear signal that she's in their camp, while pro-abortionists fear that this is indeed the case.
With such a strongly pro-life wife, some are suggesting that Judge Roberts not only shares her views but also would act on them to seek to overturn such Supreme Court rulings as Roe v. Wade and other pro-abortion decisions handed down over the last three decades.
At issue is Jane Roberts' work with Feminists for Life, a group she sought out some 10 years ago, when she offered her legal services to the group that states: "Abortion is a reflection that our society has failed to meet the needs of women. Women deserve better than abortion."
According to the Times, Mrs. Roberts served on the board of the organization for four years, and later provided legal services. The group's president, Serrin Foster, told the Times that as an adoptive parent, Mrs. Roberts - she and her husband have two adopted children - made contributions that included urging the group to focus more on the needs of biological mothers, and adding a biological mother to the board of directors.
Mrs. Foster explained that Feminists for Life is committed not only to ending abortion but also to making it "unthinkable" by providing every woman with the assistance she needs. Reversing Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that recognized a constitutional right to abortion, is a goal, she said, "but not enough."
In recent years the group has supported efforts to ban the grisly procedure known by the name the doctor who first performed it gave it - partial-birth abortion - as well as promoting legislation that prohibits transporting a minor across state lines to evade parental notification laws.
"Jane has very strong personal convictions, politically and with regard to her faith," Christine Kearns, a friend and colleague who has worked with Mrs. Roberts for 18 years, told the Times. "But as long as I've known her, I've never known her to impose them on others or to be unwilling to listen to other people's points of view."
But the views and work of Jane Roberts, like her husband a strongly devout Roman Catholic, has pro-abortion groups in a tizzy.
"It's unclear how all this will affect her husband," Jennifer Palmieri, a spokeswoman with the Center for American Progress, a liberal public policy group, told the Los Angeles Times. "It's possible that he would have a different view than her. It's just that in the absence of information about this guy, people are looking at her and trying to read the tea leaves."
It appears that for once, leftist pro-abortion groups don't plan to heed the advice of their hero, Ted Kennedy.
Teddy knows full well he's in no position to cast stones.
Ought?!
Now there's a principled stand, all right.
Snort.
Note: he said "ought to be" not "must be." I give him 48 hours into the hearings and he'll be speaking ill of Mrs. Roberts.
I'm glad! I wouldn't want her in a car going over a birdge w/ swimmer behind the wheel!
Kennedy argued that Democrats should not make an issue of the fact that Judge Roberts’ wife, Jane Sullivan Roberts, is active in Feminists for Life of America, a group devoted to overturning Roe v. Wade. "I think it ought to be out of bounds. I admire her for that," the senator said.
The man is a poltroon.
Well, this is a first - I didn't think any man's wife was 'out of bounds' to a Kennedy!
Why are the dems handling this guy with kid gloves? Kennedy is a bloodsport pit bull - I'm suspicious. Is the next judge going to be a Kennedy pick?
Extremely interesting words from Senator Kennedy, for sure!
I'm not sure I'd want Sen. Kennedy to say he "admired" me for anything.
What is going on with these rats? There has to be some kind of back room dealing going on here. No way would all these wing-nuts be so nice under normal circumstances. Unless they know something about Roberts we don't.
I don't trust the democrats when they act like they want to play nice.
???I am mystified? What the heck does this Roberts have over their heads?
The junk yard dog is whimpering as he gnaws his bone in the darkness.
This situation really concerns me, I expected a big fight, and now that we are here and we don't have one. What the heck?
Is it because they know he will be confirmed no matter what and they don't want to piss off the next Supreme Court Member?
The key word here is "ought", rather than "IS" out of bounds. Don't be surprised if some "new information" suddenly surfaces that causes Kennedy to rethink his statement.
A rare gesture of decency from Ted. Kudos to him.
Didn't stop him from talking about the "torture" of "waterboarding"...the hypocrite!
.
A bit before he went off the deep end,
there was a young Senator TED KENNEDY touring 1965's Vietnam:
http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm
(See 5th Photo down)
Good point. (But then, I've noticed you frequently make good points.) :o)
Ted " The Swimmer" Kennedy is just parsing words. He may not bring it up, he'll leave that to a female 'Rat.
Because Roberts is too likeable and too mainstream -- truly mainstream, not the libs' idea of mainstream -- for them to attack openly. Roberts is too much like middle America. They understand if they attack Roberts, they will turn off too many Americans.
Dubya outsmarted them...again.
S*** on drunk fat ted.
He's garbage.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.