Leahy Lambastes Roberts' 'Radical' Stands

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Patrick Leahy, who will lead the Democratic questioning at John Roberts' confirmation hearings, criticized the Supreme Court nominee Tuesday as an "eager, aggressive advocate" for policies of the Republican far right wing.

One day after the release of 5,000 pages of Reagan-era records, the Vermont Democrat said in a statement that Roberts' views were "among the most radical being offered by a cadre intent on reversing decades of policies on civil rights, voting rights, women's rights, privacy and access to justice."

Leahy stopped short of announcing his opposition to the appointment, in keeping with a call from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid for the rank and file to wait for confirmation hearings before making decisions. But his statement was by far the most critical he has made since President Bush nominated Roberts to the high court, and among the most scathing by any Democrat.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/16/AR2005081600454.html

[leesa]

1. Good for him. Speak out and be firm.

[stepnw1f]

2. They Better Oppose This Nomination

If they know what's good for their political careers. I would fear my constituents more than some right wing crazies in the GOP if I were them.

[uppityperson]

3. No more radical right judges.

Good for him.

[lancdem]

4. Guess that WaPo story was a bit premature

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. I guess that Leahy has has a little more time

to examine Roberts record since he made his original statement. I knew Bush's premature announcement to distract from Rove would come back to bite him.

[DrZeeLit]

5. Go Leahy! My senator! I hope the entire Senate actually reads and

listens to the confirmations and all the information being garnered by hard-fought battles with the * admin.

I'm very proud to be a Vermonter!

[reprobate]

7. I said when Roberts was nominated that he was a strawman.

He is intended to take the attention off Rove, et al. When the noise is enough that no one is writing about Rove and Plame anymore, Roberts will withdraw his nomination and the original woman (forgot her name) will be nominated and will sail thru. That was the Rove plan in the first place.

[Moderator]

8. kick

[sintax]

9. Leahy Lambasts Roberts' 'Radical' Stands

Leahy Lambastes Roberts' 'Radical' Stands


Wednesday August 17, 2005 5:46 PM

By DAVID ESPO

AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Patrick Leahy says Supreme Court nominee John Roberts holds ``radical'' views and has been an ``eager, aggressive advocate'' for policies of the far right.

While stopping short of announcing his opposition to the appointment, the Vermont Democrat's written statement Tuesday was by far the most critical he has made since President Bush nominated Roberts.

Firing his broadside one day after the release of 5,000 pages of Reagan-era records, Leahy said Roberts' views were ``among the most radical being offered by a cadre intent on reversing decades of policies on civil rights, voting rights, women's rights, privacy and access to justice.''

White House spokesman Steve Schmidt said Leahy's remarks were part of a Democratic strategy - predating Roberts' nomination - of trying to depict Bush's nominees as ideologically extreme.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5216333,00.html