Puppet Politics: Reid "Got The Message" From Liberal Third Parties To Oppose Judge Roberts

Republican National Committee ^ | September 21, 2005

[RWR8189]

Reid Pushed By Liberal Groups In Opposing Judge Roberts:

"The Senate Democratic Leader, Harry Reid Of Nevada, Said ... That He Would Oppose The Confirmation Of Judge John G. Roberts Jr. As Chief Justice, Surprising Both The White House And Fellow Democrats Still Conflicted About How To Vote." (Sheryl Gay Stolberg and David D. Kirkpatrick, "Top Democrat Says He'll Vote No On Roberts," The New York Times, 9/21/05)

• "'He Got The Message Loud And Clear, Didn't He?' Kim Gandy, President Of The National Organization For Women, Said Of Mr. Reid On Tuesday." (Sheryl Gay Stolberg and David D. Kirkpatrick, "Top Democrat Says He'll Vote No On Roberts," The New York Times, 9/21/05)

 

• "[R]eid Moved [To Oppose Roberts] Under Pressure From Liberal Activists, Who Were Demanding The Democratic Leadership Take A Strong Stand Against Roberts." ("Reid Says He Will Vote Against Roberts On Senate Floor," The Frontrunner, 9/21/05)

 

Liberal Third Party Puppet Masters Attempting To Pull Democrat Strings To Oppose Judge Roberts:

"Ralph Neas, Head Of The Liberal People For The American Way, Said, 'On The Merits, It's Very Important That There Be Significant Opposition' To Roberts.  'If There Is A Significant Number Opposed, That Could Have An Impact On Who The President Would Nominate For The Second Vacancy,' Neas Said." (Elana Schor, "Reid 'No' Vote On Roberts Could Be Dem Green Light," The Hill , 9/21/05)

"[T]wo Of Reid's Top Lieutenants, Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) And Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Received A Sharp Rebuke At A Weekend Meeting In Los Angeles From Wealthy Activists Such As Television Producer Norman Lear Over Roberts' Glide Path To Confirmation." (Paul Kane, "Reid: Roberts Will Join The Court," Roll Call, 9/21/05)

• "Schumer, Chairman Of The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Confirmed That The Event Included A 'Frank Discussion' Between Activists And The Senators. He Added That Lear, Founder Of PFAW, Did Not Hear What He Wanted From Either He Or Durbin, The Minority Whip. 'We Gave The Pros And Cons,' Schumer Recounted Of Their Discussion About Roberts. 'They Wanted Us To Come Out Against.'" (Paul Kane, "Reid: Roberts Will Join The Court," Roll Call, 9/21/05)

The Wall Street Journal: "It's No News Flash That Organizations Like The Alliance For Justice, People For The American Way And MoveOn.Org Are Influencing Democrats' Attack On Judge Roberts." (Editorial, "Leahy Follows Orders," The Wall Street Journal, 8/18/05)

Reid Joins Other Liberal Puppets In Opposing Judge Roberts:

When DNC Chairman Howard Dean Was Asked If The Senate Should Reject Judge Roberts' Confirmation He Responded "Based On What I Know Now, Absolutely Yes."(CNN's "The Situation Room," 9/9/05)

• Dean: "I'm Not Sure [Roberts] Loves The American People." (CNN's "The Situation Room," 9/9/05)

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA): "This Is Really A Leap Of Faith, Isn't It? ... There Are Those That Took The Leap In Terms Of The War, There Were Those Who Took The Leap In Terms Of Taxes And Now They Are Being Invited To Take The Leap Again In Terms Of Judge Roberts. And I Don't Think I'm Going To Be Among Them." (Steven Thomma, "Senate Democratic Leader Will Oppose Roberts' Confirmation," Knight Ridder, 9/21/05)

Reid At Odds With Democrats Who Have Signaled Support For Judge Roberts:

Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) "I Will Vote For His Confirmation."  (Sen. Pat Leahy, Remarks On Senate Floor, 9/21/05)

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT): "I'm Inclined To Vote For Roberts Unless Something Else Comes Up." (David Espo, "Reid Says He'll Vote Against Roberts, But Two Other Democrats Say They'll Vote Yes," The Associated Press, 9/20/05)

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND): "If You Look At His Performance, His Education, His Attainments, That Is The Kind Of Person Who Has The Quality To Be In The Supreme Court ... This Man Has A Mind Like A Jewel." (James Kuhnhenn, "With Roberts Hearings Complete, Democrats Wrestle With Their Votes," Knight Ridder Tribune, 9/16/05)

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE): "I Haven't Seen Anything That Would Cause Me To Vote Against John Roberts ... We Have A Couple More Days, But I'm Not Expecting Anything To Come Out Of The Woodwork." (Maura Reynolds, "Leading Democrat To Vote No On Roberts," Los Angeles Times, 9/21/05)

"[Sen. Bill] Nelson's [D-FL] Office Issued A Statement ... Saying He Was 'Favorably Impressed When He Met With Judge Roberts Several Weeks Ago And Nothing Happened During The Recent Hearing To Change His Mind.'" (Bill Adair, "Roberts Has One Sure, One Likely Florida Vote," St. Petersburg Times, 9/21/05)

Reid's Reasoning In Opposing Judge Roberts Questioned By Major Newspapers:

The Washington Post: "[D]uring Those Six Years [When Republicans Controlled The Senate], The Senate Confirmed 245 Of President Bill Clinton's Judges. If Republicans Had Been Applying Mr. Reid's Standard, They Would Have Been Within Their Rights To Reject Them All." (Editorial, "Words That Will Haunt," The Washington Post, 9/21/05)

• The Washington Post: "Do Democrats Really Want The American Confirmation System To Move In That Direction? ... Is It Now Okay For [Republicans] To Vote Against A Person Who - As Mr. Reid Put It Of Judge Roberts - Is 'An Excellent Lawyer' And 'A Thoughtful, Mainstream Judge' Who May Make 'A Fine Supreme Court Justice' Simply Because The Nominee Doesn't Represent Their Ideal?" (Editorial, "Words That Will Haunt," The Washington Post, 9/21/05)

Los Angeles Times: "It Will Be A Damning Indictment Of Petty Partisanship In Washington If An Overwhelming Majority Of The Senate Does Not Vote To Confirm John G. Roberts Jr. To Be The Next Chief Justice Of The United States." (Editorial, "Confirm Roberts," Los Angeles Times, 9/20/05)

• Los Angeles Times: "If A Majority Of Democrats In The Senate Vote Against Roberts, They Will Reveal Themselves As Nothing More Than Self-Defeating Obstructionists."(Editorial, "Confirm Roberts," Los Angeles Times, 9/20/05)

Chicago Tribune: "[R]oberts Richly Deserves To Be Confirmed: He Has The Mind, The Manner And The Modesty To Be A Fine Chief Justice." (Editorial, "John Roberts For Chief Justice," Chicago Tribune, 9/20/05)

Orlando Sentinel: "By Any Reasonable Standard, John Roberts Demonstrated This Past Week That He Deserves To Be Confirmed As The Next Chief Justice Of The U.S. Supreme Court." (Editorial, "Confirm Roberts," Orlando Sentinel, 9/18/05)

Austin American-Statesman: "The U.S. Senate Should Vote To Confirm Judge John Roberts As The 17th Chief Justice Of The United States. ... He Is Superbly Qualified By Education, Experience And Intellectual Brilliance." (Editorial, "Roberts Deserves To Be Chief Justice," Austin [TX] American-Statesman, 9/20/05)

[hsalaw]

I really think Rush is right on this one: these dems are being controlled by their looney-toons fringe. Scarey to think our politicans are taking their marching orders from their leftist whackos.

[msnimje]

The Gals at NARAL have bigger gonads than Harry Reid.

[ncountylee]

The looney-toons fringe efforts serve to help us, Scream louder moonbats and please keep yanking those puppet strings.

[inquest]

Reid "Got The Message" From Liberal Third Parties To Oppose Judge Roberts

You mean voting third party, or threatening to, has an effect on politicians' behavior? Better not let that word get out...

[Sgt_Schultze]

It's really surprising that democraps politicize everything. It has become apparent, after the several judicial filibusters and now with the resistance to Roberts, that never again will a Supreme Court nominee receive a fair and considered vote on his merits. It really makes no sense for W to be deferential to democrap concerns. He should nominate a originalist and be done with it.

[clee1]

The Rat party is owned, lock stock and barrel, by the loony left.

Keep it up, Rats. The dysfunctional Republican party thanks you.

[GOPJ]

I really think Rush is right on this one: these dems are being controlled by their looney-toons fringe.

You're right. Rush has nailed this one...

[taxesareforever]

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA): "This Is Really A Leap Of Faith, Isn't It? ... There Are Those That Took The Leap In Terms Of The War, There Were Those Who Took The Leap In Terms Of Taxes And Now They Are Being Invited To Take The Leap Again In Terms Of Judge Roberts. And I Don't Think I'm Going To Be Among Them."

Yeah Ted, I believe you since the only thing you are good at leaping at is the shore from a submerged car.

[Bush gal in LA]

Good going Reid! Keep listening to the DU dummies and you will go far in life!

[John Lenin]

The homosexual lobby is miffed. Let's hope they stick around long enough to finish off the RAT party.

[Edison]

Watch, they will call for a yea or nay vote. Roberts will be confirmed and everyone will have cover. Those that need to hear "I voted against", will hear it and the other part of the party will hear that "he appeared to be level headed so I voted with the majority."

I believe other judges have been voted in this way.

[kublia khan]

I guess Molly Yard must have heard that Roberts was coasting to confirmation and died of fright.

[traitorsclaw]

Odd that screwballs and other crackpots have any influence at all in the life of a nation.
On the bright side;Their hair is in increasing dissaray and their collective slip is showing and I believe that is getting noticed.
These people are prime candidates for psychological counseling and a drug regime;To the point of a comatose state!