At a speech in Davie Monday hosted by the conservative Federalist Society, Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney defended passing over GOP lawyers for judicial appointments.
Of the 36 lawyers Romney nominated when he was governor of Massachusetts, 23 were registered Democrats or independents who donated to Democratic candidates or voted in Democratic primaries, according to an analysis by the Boston Globe that was circulated by rival Fred Thompson. Two appointees supported expanding gay rights.
“””At a speech in Davie Monday hosted by the conservative Federalist Society, Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney defended passing over GOP lawyers for judicial appointments.
Of the 36 lawyers Romney nominated when he was governor of Massachusetts, 23 were registered Democrats or independents who donated to Democratic candidates or voted in Democratic primaries, according to an analysis by the Boston Globe that was circulated by rival Fred Thompson. Two appointees supported expanding gay rights.”””
NATIONAL REVIEW; “Waiting on Fred” Aug 27 2007
The Supreme Court, and judicial issues in general, are Thompson’s strong suit. Not only does he have the background-the Watergate investigation, the Senate Judiciary Committee, private practice, and the job of guiding John Roberts through his confirmation hearings-he also knows the conservative legal stars who would likely be candidates for the Court in coming years. But he won’t name names, beyond the men already there, “I like Roberts and Alito and Scalia and Thomas” he tells me. “We’re in a heck of a lot better shape because of Roberts and Alito, and one more gain would put us in even better shape.” Should he become president, Thompson would undoubtedly try to nominate that elusive fifth conservative.