Political Quotes

“Thirteen years ago, a Republican minority in the Senate voted to confirm the qualified nominee of a Democratic President by an overwhelming vote of 96 to 3. Despite a well-documented liberal record, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg sits on the Supreme Court today because Republican Senators chose to focus on her qualifications and not to obstruct her nomination based merely on her judicial philosophy or ideology. I urge my colleagues to vote to confirm Judge Alito by applying that same fair standard. As we debate this week, I hope we can put aside partisan rhetoric and the politics of personal destruction and stand on principle. Qualified judicial nominees such as Judge Alito deserve respectful debate and a fair up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. As Senators, it is our fundamental constitutional duty and responsibility. Exhibit 1 [From the Washington Post, Jan. 15, 2006] Confirm Samuel Alito The Senate's decision concerning the confirmation of Samuel A. Alito Jr. is harder than the case last year of now-Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. Judge Alito's record raises concerns across a range of areas. His replacement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor could alter--for the worse, from our point of view--the Supreme Court's delicate balance in important areas of constitutional law. He would not have been our pick for the high court.…”