As we all know by now, Thomas Alito, Jr, was the author of a plan (written in 1985) to slowly dismantle Roe v. Wade piece by piece, rather than outright overturning the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in 1973. (For more on Alito’s anti-choice rulings and dissenting opinions, have a look at ConnecticutMan1’s 12 Days of Justice Diary on the subject.)
Arlen Specter, the senior senator from Pennsylvania who also happens to be Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee claims to be pro-choice. So, clearly, he won’t be voting to replace Sandra Day O’Connor, the moderate swing vote on the court for the past 2 decades, with a right-wing extremist male who would happily outlaw a woman’s right to choose, will he?
Well, let’s take a closer look at Arlen’s words and his actions.
Here’s the link to Arlen’s 2004 NPAT responses. As you can see, Arlen has indicated that:
(1) Abortions should always be legal
(2) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape
(3) Abortions should be legal when the life of the mother is endangered, and
(4) That he would prohibit dilation and extraction procedures (also known as a “partial birth” abortion ban).
Next, Arlen Specter’s voting scorecard from Planned Parenthood can be found here. Surprise, surprise, he has only a 60% pro-choice voting record, having voted with the anti-choicers on legislation regarding sex education, the abortion ban, comprehensive family planning, and fetal rights.
I also found a Chester County Press letter to the editor on file in which Specter states:
“While I am personally opposed to abortion, I do not believe it can be controlled by the Government. It is a matter for women and families with guidance from ministers, priests, and rabbis.” (Chester County Press, 5/21/97).
It’s time for Senator Specter to decide whether he’s really pro-choice, or just likes to say that he is. A senator who supports choice would vote NO! on Alito…and we’re watching.
All Specter cares about are stem cells.
Go right to the top and tell ’em no to Alito’s Nomination:
Phone, fax, and email addresses for the Judiciary Committee.
Here’s another “Veto to Alito” tool:
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper and contact your congress critters — all with one click.
Also: Moveon.org gathered 300,000 signatures in their Anti-Alito petition — in a day!
They’re shooting for 500,000, please sign if you haven’t already:
Move On.org’s stop Alito petition
People for the American Way have sent over 60,000 letters to the Senate:
Save the Court Petition
American Rights at Work also
Oppose Alito Petition
Defending the Constitution’s Stop Alito Petition
http://ga3.org/…
Democratic anti-Alito petition:
Democratic Party’s Reject Alito Petition
Stop the NRA is also getting in on the party:
Stop the NRA’s Oppose Alito Petiton
And while you’re at it: sign Planned Parenthood’s anti-Alito petition, too:
Planned Parenthood Petition
NARAL is shooting for 500,000 signatures, please add yours:
Naral Anti-Alito Petition
And don’t forget: urge Congress to support Plan B:
Plan B Petition
Specter will watch to see if the wind is blowing against Presidential authority / congressional rule vs the law rather than abortion when he votes. Pro-choice won’t be part of his decision.
Any way in hell he votes against confirmation. He will say something like, “Alito says he will fairly decide the question when it is brought before him. What he said in his past does not bind him. I can in good conscience support this nominee. And the confirmation process isn’t about any one issue, which I may or may not personally agree with.”
Then Alito along with Thomas, Roberts, and Scalia will look for their case. And along with one other vote — Kennedy perhaps — and start chipping away at the right we have come to take for granted.
And if Stevens gets sick or dies in the next two or three years. Then they will no longer chip away. They will just take a case and make a full frontal assault. And that will be that, until we correct the imbalance on the court.
Call me Canadian. I love the Habs. And the Leafs.
Can you think it differently? What are the pressures on this man? What can be touched to make him vote against Alito?
Feeling pretty negative watching these hearings. Would like to believe Dems and moderate Repubs will stop Alito, and save the court from some pretty extreme decisions in the near future. Honestly just don’t see it happening at this point. Prediction — no filibuster and he passes 65-35.
hold the alito, please!