Top Democrats: We don’t want Roberts.
By Steve Boggess (08/13/05)
Its official; Kerry, Durbin, Reid, and Leahy all agree they are not happy with Bush’s choice of judges to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
The only one who is pleased with this choice of candidates to replace the outgoing justice is former Reagan advisor Edwin Meese III.
On the July 19 edition of the Hannity and Colmes show, Meese was asked by Sean Hannity if he knew Judge Roberts.
“I know him well. I think the President is to be commended for his outstanding appointment. An outstanding nomination.” Meese replied.
Hannity commented on how abortion rights groups already are weighing in against him, and that he tried during his days as a lawyer in the first Bush administration to overturn Roe v. Wade. That he did help write a brief that said “we continue to believe that Roe was wrongfully decided.”
Meese replied that it would be wrong since there are a number of issues that will be before the Supreme Court that derive from Roe against Wade, and that what he said in that brief as he was representing the people of the United States reflected the majority of all the legal scholars when Roe was decided. He was being accurate as both a lawyer and an advocate at that time in that the so-called rights that were found were not in the Constitution.
Judge Roberts was excoriated by democratic senator Charles Schumer back in 2003 for not answering specific questions about abortion, and that most nominees will not answer those type of questions. Ruth Bader Ginsberg was not forced to answer these questions and was confirmed.
On the other side of the aisle, Senator Kerry wrote down his thoughts about this Supreme Court nominee.
“Last night, we learned that President Bush wants to replace a woman who voted to uphold Roe v. Wade with a man who argued against it, and that it sends a clear signal that this administration remains bent on opening old wounds and dividing America.”
Translation: “Since I couldn’t present a clear stand on any issue during my presidential campaign, including abortion, then I will continue to accuse this president as being a divider and not being able to unite our country.”
He goes on in his op-ed piece about the subject: “We need to ask the tough questions to determine whether John Roberts is the nominee who will give America a Court that is fair, independent ethical and committed to Constitutional freedoms rather than ideological agenda, and I promise you I will do everything in my power to assure that no question is side stepped.”
Translation: “If during the confirmation process I find that he disagrees with the ideology of the Democratic Party in regards to interpreting the Constitution, and Roe v. Wade, I will ask every question I can to trip him up and expose him for the radical conservative he is, and deny him my vote to the judicial bench.”
Senator Durbin also chimed in with his opinion: “Sandra Day O’Connor was a swing vote who showed herself to be very much opened minded and balanced in her decisions. I don’t see anything is his background to suggest he would come to the Supreme Court to that same approach.”
Translation: “We could convince Justice O’Connor to vote our way about the abortion issue, irregardless of what the American people thought, or felt about it. Judge Roberts comes across as having too much of a spine, and an independent thinker, and can’t be persuaded to vote our way, he will interpret the Constitution the way it should be, and that’s why I don’t want him.”
This is just the tip of the ice-berg for the judicial process. Ted Kennedy has already informed President Bush that he will fight tooth and nail against the confirmation of his nominee to the Supreme Court.
The Democrats are worried. The abortion issue is only one of the big “successes” in their history. Imagine if you will, Judge Roberts being confirmed to the judicial bench that will be only the tip of the ice-berg for conservatives in finally getting our collective voices heard on issues that are important to us.
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