Last fall, President Bush nominated Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Senate Judiciary Committee has now commenced their hearings before opening the debate to the entire Senate. We have, in the meantime, learned much about Judge Alito and it’s not pretty. His positions are not moderate, even from the standpoint of a conservative. Look at the details reported by People for the American Way (www.pfaw.org ) or tune into the hearings. From what I’ve seen, I believe Judge Alito’s troubling record, his lack of impartiality, his right-wing ideology and his disturbing lack of credibility should prevent his confirmation to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court may seem distant from Maine, but as you look into the details and as the answers unfold during the hearings, you will realize how important this nomination is and that it should not happen. Our own Maine Senators will ultimately participate in the Senate debate and that is what I want you to watch even more closely.
We have been so proud of having two women as our senators. We comfortably have labeled them moderates, and cheer when they vote to protect the environment or children. However, a closer look at their voting records will show you that they generally take the moderate position only when their vote won’t count. And when their vote does count, they will be clearly at home on the conservative side with all other Republican members of the Senate. One of our Senators, Olympia Snowe, is up for re-election this year. So, I encourage you to start paying closer attention to her votes and positions. It may be time to elect someone who better represents the values that you truly care for.
It turns out that Alito is hostile to basic human rights. For instance, he wrote a dissent saying it was okay to strip-search a 10-year-old girl without a valid warrant. His other decisions and dissents in his term on the U.S. Court of Appeals show that he rejects basic protections for workers and has rarely sided with individuals seeking relief from discrimination on the basis of race, age, gender or disability.
As with other conservatives, Alito believes in limiting the powers of the legislative branch of government while placing more power in the hands of the Administration. He would radically re-interpret the Constitution to do so. In light of recent exposure of the President’s disregard for individual rights, we should be concerned that Alito once wrote that high government officials should be absolutely immune from liability in cases involving the illegal wiretapping of U.S. citizens. His record is especially troubling at a time when one party controls all three branches of government and allegations of abuse of power abound – from warrantless wiretapping of American citizens to the unlawful detention and torture of suspects held by the government at home and overseas.
Those who wish to have a more conservative Supreme Court will accept the assurances and platitudes offered in the hearings. The rest of us, though, will rely on the record of his past writings and decisions and already know that he is far outside even mainstream conservatism and would be a disaster on the Court. What will our senators believe? What do they want? If they want Alito, do we want them to represent us?
Join members of the Maine Fair and Independent Courts Coalition in opposing Judge Sam Alito’s Confirmation to the Supreme Court on Saturday, Jan. 14 from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at Portland City Hall. Organized by Maine Women’s Lobby: organizer@mainewomen.org or 622-0851.
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