Judge Samuel Alito meets with Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005, to discuss Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Posted on 11/16/2005 8:35:12 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - 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.
Judge Samuel Alito meets with Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, on Capitol Hill in Washington Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005, to discuss Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Hey Harry, repeat after me:
Justice Samuel Alito.
I detect the whiff of a filibuster being brewed.
HAR! Dingy Harry concerned? Of course he is, just like the rest of the Thugocrat socialists who need the SCOTUS for illegal law making and liberal activism....
Choke on it Harry!!!
"Concerned" was a word we often heard tumble from the lips
of that clown from South Dakota that "retired" from the Senate last year,isn't it?
"A picture of Sam Alito is emerging that may explain why the extreme right-wing is popping champagne corks .. " -- Harry Reid..
----
No, Harry.
Here's a mirror, pass it around to your Senate colleagues.
That's why we're popping corks, and have been for years now.
Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito (2nd L) speaks with
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) in his Capitol Hill office in
Washington November 15, 2005. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
I resent being called "extreme" because I don't think babies should be murdered. I think Reid is extreme (and an idiot)!
IOW, Reid will give any smear and lie about Alito and/or Alito's family, no matter how outrageous, a complete non-stop public airing until the nomination has been defeated. Go on and try it, you little scumbag.
Well for all the let's have a fight crowd it looks like our favorite pubbie senators are ready to sell us down the river. So far Chafee and Snowe look like they're ready to bail, can Collins, Vonivich, deWine, and McInsane be far behind?
""The appointment of Judge Alito largely fails to diversify the court," Reid said.'
Attention Mr. Reid.
Nothing in the Constitution says the courts must be 'diversified'.
Extraordinary circumstances alert!
Well, you should never forget the Dems' national motto:
"Our Strength Is Our Perversity"
"Concerned" now, "Deeply saddened" later.
I guess abortion is an "American value."
Harry Ried says:
They decided she (Harriet Miers) was inadequately radical or insufficiently aggressive for their purposes, so they gave her the boot."
And then he says
A picture of Sam Alito is emerging that may explain why the extreme right-wing is popping champagne corks
By this logic Reid believes that Miers would have kept the court "balanced" since Alito will tilt it to the right
Ried then continues to say:
The appointment of Judge Alito largely fails to diversify the court," Reid said.
Which means one of two things.
1) He is not a she,a minority, handicapped or gay
2) Changing the court from "Neutral" to "Right" is not diversifying.
According to Sen. Reid, one of two things is what should be considered when contemplating a nominee:
1) The person should be considered only because of race, sex, sexual preference etc... and not the content of their character, so to speak
2) Changing the court from "Neutral" to "Left" is diversifying while changing the court from "Neutral" to "Right" is not.
To sum it up, according to Reid the only acceptable nominee is someone the Democratic party considers in their pocket belief wise, or is a member of a sub group that historically votes democratic.
I am so glad he cleared this up for us. Thanks, Senator!
SWIMMER: "Someone doesn't like me up there..."
Bush made a big mistake in appointing roberts chief justice.
He should have left roberts to replace o'conner.
This would have gotten her off the court and left the court with only 8 members. This would put pressure on the dems to let Alito through each time a 4-4 case came down tying up the court.
Also Alito would have been replacing Renquist and not O'Connor. So that argument would have been taken away too.
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