Kennedy Questions Roberts on Civil Rts ("cramped view of Voting Rts Act")

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP:
Kennedy Questions Roberts on Civil Rights
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 28, 2005


WASHINGTON (AP) -- After days of Democratic deference to John Roberts, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy said Thursday that documents made public to date indicate the Supreme Court nominee holds a ''rather cramped view of the Voting Rights Act.''

Materials that Roberts drafted while working at the Justice Department and White House counsel's office during the Reagan administration ''certainly raise some questions in my mind about his commitment'' to civil rights in general, added the Massachusetts Democrat.

While couched carefully, Kennedy's remarks showed a willingness to raise pointed questions at a time when most other Democrats have stuck to pleasantries about Roberts' academic and legal credentials while saying they look forward to confirmation hearings....


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Roberts.html

[Straight Shooter]

1. To hell with pleasantries. This is a Supreme Court Justice on the line.

As if the Repubs would be civil were the shoe on the other foot.

If Roberts is of a mindset that civil rights should be narrowed and restricted, considering how narrow and restricted they are already, then his nomination needs to be fought tooth and nail. Another privileged Republican white male, why am I not surprised.

[SpiralHawk]

2. He holds a cramped view on french frys, also

Let's not forget that.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Kennedy questions Roberts on civil rights

Posted on Fri, Jul. 29, 2005

Kennedy questions Roberts on civil rights

JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press


WASHINGTON - Depending on the Senate Democrat, Supreme Court nominee John Roberts has a questionable commitment to civil rights or is an outstanding nominee who pledges not to be an activist justice.

Criticism from Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was the toughest talk yet from Senate Democrats about President Bush's first pick for the high court, who was continuing meetings with lawmakers on Friday.

A review of paperwork Roberts drafted while he worked at the Justice Department and White House counsel's office during the Reagan administration "certainly raise some questions in my mind about his commitment" to civil rights in general, Kennedy said Thursday.

Some of Kennedy's Democratic colleagues praised Roberts' academic and legal credentials. They expect little negative material to turn up before the start of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for the 50-year-old federal appeals court judge.

"I was so pleased to meet such an outstanding nominee," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. Added Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.: "I don't see anything that's going to be disturbing" in his record.
(snip/...)

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/12249356.htm

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With Democrats like Mary Landrieu, D-La. and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb, who needs Roves?



SUCK-UP AWARDS.