Dubbed “Scalito” because his extreme conservatism mirrors that of Justice Antonin Scalia, Judge Samuel Alito has been nominated by President Bush to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the Supreme Court.
Democratic Senate leaders immediately lashed out at the judge, whose past decisions have supported placing restrictions on abortion that included parental and spousal notification.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid said: “The Senate needs to find out if the man replacing Miers is too radical for the American people.”
Senator Edward Kennedy slammed the choice: “Rather than selecting a nominee for the good of the nation and the court, President Bush has picked a nominee whom he hopes will stop the massive hemorrhaging of support on his right wing. This is a nomination based on weakness, not on strength.”
Planned Parenthood called for the Senate’s rejection of Alito.
An expoitative photo op was quickly planned: “Wasting no time, the White House arranged for Alito to go to the Capitol after the announcement.The schedule called for Senate Majority Leader Bill First to greet him and accompany the nominee to the Capitol Rotunda to go to the coffin of the late civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks.”
Parks is probably turning in her grave, as Alito’s past decisions show that he would protect racist employers, among other things.
Harry Reid: President rejected opportunity to find “consensus” nominee.
GW University Law Professor Jonathan Turley: “There will be no one to the right of Sam Alito on this Court.”
Prepare for battle, folks. This one’s gonna get ugly.
Nomination Likely to Please G.O.P., but Not Some Democrats [nyt]
Anti-gay group with gay CFO OK’s Bush choosing Samuel Alito for Supreme Court [pageone q]
