NYT: Specter Will Not Ask Roberts to Take a Stand on Abortion

[DeepModem Mom]

Senator Will Not Ask Roberts to Take a Stand on Abortion
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
Published: September 11, 2005


WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 - With confirmation hearings for Judge John G. Roberts Jr. set to convene on Monday, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says in his written opening statement that he does not intend to ask the nominee if he would overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

"While I will not ask Judge Roberts whether he would overrule Roe, there are, in my opinion, entirely appropriate questions on his jurisprudential views that might be asked," the chairman, Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, says in the 1,436-word statement, provided by his office.

"For example," the statement continues, "I consider it appropriate to question him as to his views on stare decisis, or following precedents, as well as his views with respect to the importance of stability in the law, which Judge Roberts has identified, along with 'modesty,' as one of his lodestones."...

***

"While I personally consider it inappropriate to ask a nominee how he would vote on a specific matter likely to come before the court," Mr. Specter writes, "senators may ask whatever they choose and the nominee is similarly free to respond as he chooses."

An ardent supporter of abortion rights, Mr. Specter was nearly denied his committee chairmanship earlier this year after angering conservatives by suggesting that it would be difficult for the Senate to confirm a Supreme Court candidate who would overturn Roe. But the senator has tried to play a neutral role in the Roberts confirmation process; when an abortion rights advocacy group ran what he thought was a misleading television advertisement against Judge Roberts, Mr. Specter called for the advertisement to be pulled, and it was....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/11/politics/politicsspecial1/11hearings.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. oops. Guess they got his balls back in the purse.

[Erika]

2. The GOP wishing to deny women's reproductive rights

is going full bore with his approval. 2006 will see the GOP wiped away.

[enough]

3. Of course he won't.

The great "moderate," "independent-minded" Arlen Specter will be doing his right-wing masters' bidding this time, just as he did for Clarence Thomas.

Specter has already stated on record that he thinks Roberts will be a great Chief Justice. I don't see how the Times can say he has "tried to play a neutral role."

[Skink]

4. Still a better bet would be to ask him how he feels about the Geneva conve

His primary duty will be to exonerate Bush. Overturning Roe is just the icing on the cake.

[struggle4progress]

5. Specter has always valued party over principle. Who can forget ..

.. his collaboration in the character assassination of Anita Hill?

edit spelling

[leesa]

6. This administration should not be allowed to appoint another position

until there has been an inquiry into placing political hacks in key positions.