Judge Roberts's Slap at Women

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By Robert Parry (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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The existence of these two memos was reported by the Washington Post on Aug. 16 near the end of a lengthy article on the National Archives' release of Reagan-era documents on Roberts. But the slap at the women's rights issue has drawn little attention.

When asked about Roberts's memos, Olympia Snowe � now a U.S. senator � responded diplomatically. �Hopefully, 21 years later, Judge Roberts possesses an openness with respect to issues of gender-based wage discrimination,� Snowe told the Post.

But the larger point is that Roberts � while in a position to influence policy inside the White House � opted for a knee-jerk right-wing position on an important discrimination issue facing the American people.

Then, rather than showing sensitivity to the long history of injustice inflicted on women in the work place, he chose to make a joke, suggesting that women wanted money they didn't deserve.

�From each according to his ability, to each according to her gender,� Roberts wrote. [Emphasis added.]

While Sen. Snowe may be right in hoping that Roberts has become more open to women's rights, the memos are clear evidence that George W. Bush's choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is not a man who saw an injustice against others and sought to right it.

Instead, Roberts demonstrated lawyerly thinking and ideological disdain in opposing a strategy that tried to reduce the unfairness. Indeed, his memos suggest that he wasn't even aware that there was a serious injustice.

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Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His new book, Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq, can be ordered at secrecyandprivilege.com. It's also available at Amazon.com, as is his 1999 book, Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth.'
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Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq, can be ordered at more...)

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