On Day of Senate Vote on Roberts, John Kerry Explains Why He is Voting No

[Mass]

On Black AmericaWeb.

It seems Kerry is busy making sure that African Americans understand that he is working for them.

http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/kerry929

On Day of Senate Vote on Roberts, John Kerry Explains Why He’s Voting No

Date: Wednesday, September 28, 2005
By: Special to BlackAmericaWeb.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following editorial was written by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass) to explain his intention to vote no on Thursday's expected Senate vote on Judge John Roberts nomination as chief justice of the Supreme Court.

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This week, the Senate will vote on the nomination of John Roberts for chief justice of the Supreme Court. I will vote against Judge Roberts because he failed to address concerns about his record on voting rights, civil rights and the right to privacy. We saw a talented lawyer during his confirmation hearing, but heard minimal commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of the American people.

It would be a mistake to confirm someone to lead the very branch of government responsible for ensuring equal opportunity and justice when he refuses to say where he stands on things as fundamental as civil rights and voting rights. I hope John Roberts turns out to be a great Chief Justice -- but you don't just roll the dice on the Supreme Court of the United States.

Our country has traveled an incredible journey in the fight to guarantee civil rights to all Americans. From the days when Thurgood Marshall took Brown vs. the Board of Education to the Supreme Court through the present, an important part of this battle has taken place in the federal court system.

The American people should know whether John Roberts will protect their constitutional rights if confirmed as a justice to the Court. Unfortunately, he has evaded serious and legitimate questions and forced the Senate to exercise its Constitutional responsibility of advice and consent virtually in the dark.
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[jillan]

1. I only wish there were more senators that had their heads on

straight like Kerry!

I am so fearful of what Roberts is going to do to this country.
When I heard that he voted against a deaf girl of normal intellegence to have an interpreter with her in class, because all the Constitution says is that we have to do is provide people with disabilities a free education(!), I knew right then that we are heading down a very dark road with Roberts in charge.

G-d help anyone that is not white, healthy and wealthy.

[Mass]

2. WHy was he not at his desk for the vote?

[TayTay]

3. Late, as usual n/t

[Mass]

4. Just voted now.

[jillan]

5. So do we think we will get to see the Senator on TV today?

I wanna see my President!

[TayTay]

6. Unsure. The pending legislation

is the (or a) defense bill, so maybe. He has a committee meeting at 2:30 that you can see online.

[Mass]

7. Feingold is making a speech that could be a Kerry speech

(even endorse the increase in size of the army and the fact that the war price could be used for something else in this country).

A good speech altogether, but certainly not novel, even if it is going to be spun that way.

[TayTay]

9. This is a good time for a speech.

When is the vote scheduled on this? This is the bill that failed a cloture vote back in July, right? So the vote is probably unscheduled. I imagine that there will be lots of amendments and that the actual vote on the bill itself will be next week.

Excellent time for a speech, IMHO.

Just heard on C-Span that the Senate will meet tomorrow and then not votes are scheduled until Wed., to honor the Jewish holidays.

[Mass]

11. They are reopening the bill this afternoon, I think

So it is a perfect time for a speech, and it was a good speech.

[karynnj]

8. well at least they don't give detentions to Senators who are tardy often

[TayTay]

10. Oh thank the Powers That Be for that

Otherwise, there would be another mortgage on that townhouse in Boston. (I'm joking, LOL!)

[whometense]

12. Perhaps

a teensy bit passive/aggressive? :evilgrin:

[politicasista]

13. Thanks for posting this Mass

:yourock: