Posted on 01/11/2006 7:24:25 PM PST by SmithL
A group cleverly called People for the Alito Way says the Associated Press wrongly characterized its an episode at Samuel Alito's hearing today that left his wife in tears.
The AP story, which followed an exclusive from the Drudge Report, placed the blame on a Republican senator rather than committee Democrats -- a fact the conservative group says is just plain wrong.
After taking a steady beating from Senate Democrats today, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.-S.C.) offered an apology to Alito. (Read the full transcript.)
"Judge Alito, I am sorry that you've had to go through this," Graham said. "I am sorry that your family has had to sit here and listen to this."
Alito's wife, Martha-Ann Bomgardner, at this point had begun to choke up. She exited the hearing room and returned after a break holding her husband's hand.
But, according to the AP's account, it was a comment Graham made moments earlier that triggered Bomgardner's emotions.
"And really what I would look at to believe you're not -- and I'm going to be very honest with you -- is: How have you lived your life? Are you really a closet bigot?" Graham asked rhetorically.
The AP story reports:
"Martha-Ann Bomgardner, who had sat behind her husband for hours of questioning over several days, left as her husband was being questioned by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
"'Are you really a closet bigot?' Graham asked Alito. The nominee said no, and Graham said, "No sir, you’re not."
Commenting on the AP story, Coalition for a Fair Judiciary President Kay Daly said: “Mrs. Alito has shown grace under pressure after months of abuse at the hands of well-funded, left wing organizations and their Democratic minions on the Senate Judiciary Committee,” said Kay Daly. For the Associated Press to misrepresent these events in an attempt to smear Republican Senator Lindsey Graham sets a new low in the already subterranean level of journalistic standards on display in Judge Alito’s confirmation process.”
Mr. Bluey is editor of Human Events Online.
bttt
I'll tell ya'll what; go watch the video for yourself, and decide. I've watched as much of this as I can, and he's been treated abysmally for months. Don't forget that the 'Rats demanded that they get this much time to dig up some dirt; and it's obvious that they have failed again. They have resorted to personal attacks and thin inuendo against Judge Alito, and it's no wonder his wife got upset. Teddy the Hutt ought to be glad she didn't nail him in a fat embolism beside his eye with a waterglass, or something....I'll bet she has one hell of a good aim...
The Golden News out of all lf this is that we are on the cusp of President Bush's second successful SCOTUS appointment, including the Chief Justice. There is an excellent chance that President Bush will get at least one if not two more SCOTUS appointments before he leaves office. That is exactly what many of us voted for Mr. Bush about, and I'm pretty happy to see it about to happen.
Deal with it Dems.
This is the Liberals's worst nightmare coming true before their very eyes, so we have to expect a certain amount of gnashing of teeth, tearing of hair, etc....
Why is your OPINION so much more valid than everyone elses here (for the most part)? I took it as him making a strong, undeniable point, but since YOU see differently, well, that is just the way it is.
You seem to be bending over backwards to make the whole Dem attack machine the fault of Graham. What ticks me off is that this whole thing detracted from the utter spectacle that is Teddy the Swimmer.
So you're all about "appearances" huh? Worried about the MSM taking "a quote out of context"? Are you big on "feelings" too?
HOw liberal of you.
Let me tell you something CD, there was no one in that room, INCLUDING Alito and his wife, THAT DIDN'T KNOW that "no, you're not" a bigot was coming. NO ONE! So quit you *^%($# whining that a Senator didn't placate and measure his words just so, lest the lying, smearing MSM put things in a bad light. THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT ANYWAY!
I don't know, nor do I care. However, the rumors are now "out there" and Graham is intelligent enough to know and facile enough in his speech to avoid language in his public statements which permits double entendres. Hence my admonishment that he should beware making such remarks.
Graham should use whatever language he wants, just like anyone. I doubt he is influenced by rumors.
A chortle is a chuckle and a snort. I would imagine a snortle is a pretty scary sound :-)
There ain't no deoderant made that can neutralize the stink on these skunks... only the truth can.
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