Listen very carefully within the marbled, storied corridors of the Capitol and you're apt to hear one question above all whispered from senatorial lips to senatorial ears: "Give me one good reason I should filibuster Samuel Alito and not simply allow him to be confirmed for the seat being vacated by Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court? Why risk the majority's wrath, their threat to violate the rules of the Senate and exercise the Nuclear Option"?
Fair enough. I'll give you not just one but ten good reasons for Democrats, Independents, and moderate Republicans to stand tall and reject this nomination, pandering to those far to the right of the mainstream (Source: SaveTheCourt.org):
10. Alito has supported extremist positions overall.
"There will be no one to the right of Sam Alito on this Court." — Jonathan Turley, law professor who supported John Roberts but opposes Sam Alito
Alito's dissents are more conservative than those of even fellow Republican judges 91% of the time.
Alito's dissents argue against individual rights 84% of the time.
Alito has been criticized by many of his fellow judges for "ignoring, abandoning, or overruling precedent" and for "disregard of established principles of stare decisis."
Alito testified that the meaning of the Constitution should be interpreted strictly in accord with its text and the "meaning someone would have taken 'from the text' at the time of its adoption"; a position that The Oregonian characterized as an "18th century view" that could "roll back many hard-fought federal protections that Americans enjoy today."
9. Alito has opposed "one person, one vote."
Alito wrote that he disagreed with Supreme Court decisions on reapportionment that established the "one person, one vote" principle inherent in equal voting rights.
8. Alito has opposed the First Amendment separation of church and state.
Alito ruled that a child evangelism group was discriminated against by a school district that did not allow it to distribute and post materials in back-to-school nights.
Alito voted to allow group prayer at school-sponsored graduation ceremonies; O'Connor and a majority of the Supreme Court struck down a similar policy.
Alito supported city-sponsored religious displays; in a similar case, the Supreme Court, with Justice O'Connor in the majority, ruled otherwise.
7. Alito has opposed a woman’s right to choose.
Alito wrote: "The Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion."
Doug Drenkow is a writer, editor, webmaster, and producer. A fourth-generation Democrat, Doug has produced the political talk shows "Barry Gordon From Left Field," on radio, and "NewsRap with Barry Gordon," on cable TV, featuring top progressive guests in the nation. Having met his wife through the Internet, Doug is a big believer in the power of new media!
Doug Drenkow's progressive political commentaries have appeared in print, on radio and TV, and online -- as in OpEdNews, DailyKos, BuzzFlash, UPI, and BBC News Worldwide.
