January 16, 2003

THE LEFT'S LITMUS TEST:

Abortion Rights Leader: Expect Filibuster Unless Next Supreme Court Nominee Shows Support (David Espo, Jan 16, 2003, The Associated Press)
The head of a prominent abortion rights organization on Thursday predicted a Senate filibuster if President Bush seeks to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy with a nominee who does not clearly support the court's 1973 ruling on the issue.

"The burden of proof is on any nominee," said Kate Michelman, the head of NARAL Pro-Choice America. "It's the burden of that nominee to address constitutional freedoms and whether they indeed believe the court was right in recognizing a woman's right to choose."

"I fully expect that pro-choice senators will conduct a filibuster against any Supreme Court nominee" that does not express support for abortion rights, she added in an interview.


Somewhere in the bowels of the White House, Karl Rove is drooling over the thought of the Democrats filibustering the first Hispanic nominee to the Court. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 16, 2003 10:10 PM
Comments

I really wonder just how confident the NARAL should be. How many pro-choice senators, in these changing political times, are willing to walk the plank over that issue?

Posted by: Jeff Brokaw at January 17, 2003 7:21 AM

How many Senators, especially those wanting to be President, or just wanting get re-elected in conservative leaning states, want to be seen as being puppets of a special interst? If NARAL were smart, they'd be working behind the scenes and quietly have their filibuster all lined up.



But they can't because groups like NARAL are like blowfish, they puff up to look menacing becasue that's all they've got.

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at January 17, 2003 1:23 PM

The only way the Dems could have a quiet filibuster is if the GOP completely wimps out and lets the Dems block the nomination without making the Dems do it publicly. Given the GOP's lack of spine this could happen but after the GOP successfully made judges an issue in the '02 elections there is hope they would stand up to the Dems

Posted by: AWW at January 17, 2003 8:46 PM

Remember, it's al about the primaries at this point and abortion is good politics ther.

Posted by: oj at January 18, 2003 9:44 AM

What really gets me about this is that a judge who takes a public stand at confirmation on a specific issue that's likely to come before his court is pretty well required to recuse himself from the case. Thus, no matter one's abortion politics, one should refuse to answer about one's position on Roe, because you'll probably have to deal with a case challenging it at some point.



Democrats never seem entirely happy unless they can neuter the judiciary.

Posted by: Christopher Badeaux at January 18, 2003 2:34 PM
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