Kerry Takes His Cues From Left Wing

Sen. John Kerry (D.-Mass.) is traveling in Davos, Switzerland, but that didn’t stop him from launching what conservatives are calling an “international filibuster” against Samuel Alito.

As CNN reported Kerry’s plans to filibuster Alito’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, the liberal People For the American Way reacted with glee to the news. Kerry’s cohort from Massachusetts, Sen. Teddy Kennedy, also offered encouragement.

At 5:31 p.m., the National Abortion Federation (the professional association of abortion practitioners) released the following statement:

"Today, the National Abortion Federation calls on Senators to use the filibuster to stop the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito because of his extreme views on the right to privacy and Roe v. Wade. We don't take this step lightly. In our 29 year history, NAF has never advocated for the filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee, but these are extraordinary circumstances. Now that the Senate leadership has publicly announced 51 votes in favor of confirming Alito, we must urge Senators who care about preserving women's reproductive freedom to use the filibuster to stop Alito's elevation to the Supreme Court."

"Other than voting to send our men and women to war, there is no more important vote in the Senate than our vote on a Supreme Court nominee. This is a vote of a generation and a test of conscience. Judge Alito does not share the values of equality and justice that make this country strong. He does not deserve a place on the highest court of the land.

"We owe it to future generations of Americans to oppose this nomination. If Judge Alito is confirmed, he will serve on the court long after President Bush leaves office, and the progress of half a century on the basic rights of all Americans is likely to be rolled back. He’s the wrong Justice for justice and the rule of law in America."

Then, at 5:53 p.m., merely a minute later, this release arrived from People For the American Way:

Senator John Kerry has called for a filibuster of the Alito nomination, heeding your calls to do everything possible to defeat it. He has asked that activists now help convince his colleagues to join him.

Please contact key senators who can provide critical support to the filibuster effort!

Then forward this email to anyone you know who is worried that Alito would likely condone the abuse of power by the president, vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, and help curtail Congress' ability to protect the civil rights, health, safety, and welfare of the American people.

We need to act now to prevent Senate Republican leaders from ramming this nomination through the Senate -- time is of the essence.

I don’t have foggiest idea if this is a vast left-wing conspiracy, mysteriously orchestrated by Kerry as he snowboards in Davos.

But the sudden embrace of Kerry’s action by the pro-abortion professionals' group, the liberal People For the American Way and Teddy "Windbag" Kennedy seems to suggest this idea was at least floated (and probably well scripted) amongst some of the country’s top left-wing decision makers.

As Sen. George Allen (R.-Va.) so eloquently said today: “Senator Kerry must be feeling lucky because he wants to make my day.”

PFAW and Kerry's email against Alito....

PFAW Action Alerts

PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY January 25, 2006

"I, for one, really believe that there comes a time when you just have to stand up."

-- Senator Dianne Feinstein, explaining her opposition to Alito.

Call your senators and Democratic leaders Reid and Leahy now. Tell them the time to stand up is now.

(202) 224-3121

Ask them to make a commitment to do everything possible to defeat Alito's nomination.

Let us know how your calls go by visiting
SaveTheCourt.org/CallReport

Dear Stuck on Stupid,

When asked yesterday if Democrats would "rule out a filibuster" of Samuel Alito's Supreme Court nomination, the Party's Senate leader, Harry Reid, shot back an emphatic "no."

Senator Reid's declaration followed a Judiciary Committee vote on Alito in which the eight Democratic members unanimously voted against confirmation. As they cast their votes, they made the strongest arguments against placing Alito on the Court that we've heard to date.

"The president is in the midst of a radical realignment of the powers of the government and its intrusiveness into the private lives of Americans," said the Committee's top Democrat, Patrick Leahy, adding "I believe this nomination is part of that plan." He suggested that Alito was picked partly because he "convinced those advising this president that he'll be a reliable vote against challenges to presidential power."

"If we are here to uphold and defend that Constitution," Illinois' Senator Durbin asked, "does it not include, most fundamentally, our right as Americans to be left alone when it comes to our communications, to our medical records, to our business records, to the most personal decisions a person and a family can make?"

Senator Feinstein, the Committee's only woman, spoke for millions of Americans when she said, "If one is pro-choice, in this day and age, in this structure, one can't vote for Judge Alito. It is simply that simple."

The Senate's third ranking Democrat, Debbie Stabenow, joined other Democratic Senate leaders in the same press conference in which Senator Reid held open the possibility of a filibuster. She spelled out in dramatic terms why Alito must not be confirmed. "Whether it's a family losing a dairy farm, workers losing their pensions, a mentally disabled young man who was the victim of a vicious sexual harassment in the workplace, a woman who was dealing with personal health issues and the right to choose and has a fundamental right of privacy to choose her reproductive decisions herself, an unarmed 15-year-old boy being shot dead in the back of his head by police or the strip-search of a 10-year-old girl, Judge Alito has been consistently outside the mainstream and has said no to the daily concerns of average Americans."

As the day went on, more and more Democrats announced their opposition to Alito, including California's Barbara Boxer, Connecticut's Christopher Dodd, Florida's Bill Nelson, and Illinois' Barack Obama.

Senator Feinstein concluded her explanation for voting against Alito by saying, "I, for one, really believe that there comes a time when you just have to stand up."

Alito's nomination is being debated on the Senate floor as we speak. Call your senators and Democratic leaders Reid and Leahy now. Tell them the time to stand up is now -- ask them to make a commitment to do everything possible to defeat Alito's nomination.

(202) 224-3121

Tell us how your calls go by visiting SaveTheCourt.org/CallReport.

--Your Allies at People For the American Way

Kerry for President (the eternal campaign)

Dear Stuck on Stupid,

Yesterday, Senator Ted Kennedy and I told our colleagues that we supported a filibuster of Judge Alito's nomination for the Supreme Court. And we weren't alone. But the bottom line is that it takes more than two or three people to filibuster successfully. It's not "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." If you want to stop Judge Alito from becoming Justice Alito, use your own email list and organize. We can't just preach to our own choir. We need to prove to everyone - from our friends and neighbors to our fellow Senators - that the American people know Judge Alito will take our country in the wrong direction, and they expect something to be done about it.

So I'm asking you to join Senator Kennedy, me, and concerned citizens across America who are signing this petition to support a filibuster. If there was ever a time to forward an email on to friends and family, this is it. One way or another, we're going to find out in the next few days if Judge Alito is going to become Justice Alito. You know where I stand. The time to make your voice heard is now. So please sign this filibuster petition and get as many friends as you can to do the same.

Sign the filibuster petition

If Judge Alito gets on the Supreme Court, it will be an incredible mistake for America. And remember, this is one mistake that we can never take back.

I voted against Justice Roberts, but I feel even more strongly about Judge Alito. Why? Rather than live up to the promise of "equal justice under the law," he has consistently made it harder for the most disadvantaged Americans to have their day in court. He routinely defers to excessive government power no matter how much government abuses that power. And, to this date, his only statement on record regarding a woman's right to privacy is that she doesn't have one.

There isn't a shred of doubt in my opposition to Judge Alito's nomination. I spent a lot of time over the last few years thinking about what kind of person deserves to sit on the highest court in the land, so I don't hesitate a minute in saying that Judge Alito is not that person. His entire legal career shows that, if confirmed, he will take America backward. People can say all they want that "elections have consequences." Trust me, I understand. But that doesn't mean we have to stay silent about Judge Alito's nomination.

Sign the filibuster petition

President Bush had the opportunity to nominate someone who would unite the country in a time of extreme division. He chose not to do this, and that is his right. But we have every right -- in fact, we have a responsibility -- to fight against a radical ideological shift on the Supreme Court. This nomination was a sellout to the demands of the extreme right wing of the Republican Party. The president gave no thought to what the American people really wanted - or needed. So now that the president and Judge Alito have proven they won't stand up for the majority of Americans, we have to stand up. We have to speak out. That's the true meaning of "advice and consent."

Sincerely,

John Kerry

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