Orrin Hatch: “Members can see why I am concerned. I have always tried to judge nominations without bias or self-interest. I am…”

“Members can see why I am concerned. I have always tried to judge nominations without bias or self-interest. I am concerned, however, that the Senate is not demonstrating similar fairness to the President and this nominee. But these partisan remarks, extraneous to Mr. Scalia's qualifications, are bound to arise when the Democratic leadership refuses to allow Mr. Scalia and his qualifications to be openly debated in the light of day. If you do not like Mr. Scalia for any reason at all, including the fact that he is a pro-life Catholic, or the fact that he is Justice Scalia's son, then vote against him and show your bigotry that way. But the fact is, he ought to have a vote. The President ought to have a vote. Even if Members do not like Mr. Scalia, he is the President's choice. He ought to have a vote. I have to say the allegation by some that it is because he is a pro-life Catholic bothers me. As a practicing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I have known much bigotry due to my faith, and especially because I am a pro-life member of my faith. As we all know, mine is the only denomination that had mobs go against it, with a pogrom ordered against it within the United States of America. I find bias against a person because of his or her religious beliefs particularly repugnant. I worry about that type of thing. I know people in the Congress who will not vote for anybody who is pro-life.”