ALITO SHINES AS DEMS GRILL AND ATTACK CHARACTER

Judge Samuel Alito spent his third day before the Senate Judiciary Committee standing firm while being grilled by Democrats on a wide range of subjects. Attempting to place guilt by association, Senator Edward Kennedy became rather heated with both Alito and Senator Arlen Specter Chairman of the Committee. Kennedy referred to an alumni group that Alito was associated with from Princeton University in 1985. Although Alito readily stated that he did not know nor agree with the beliefs of this group and had he known at the time would have ended his association, Kennedy grilled him with accusations that took on the face of guilt by association. Remember Kennedy was the Committee member who destroyed the Bork nomination during the Reagan years by destroying Judge Bork's character with falsehoods in the same way that he attempted and failed with Alito. At one point Kennedy was in heated debate with Senator Spector demanding that the records of the alumni group be subpoenaed and Spector told Kennedy that he would NOT take control of the proceedings. Alito's record proves that his philosophy, beliefs and character have never been in line with the racist and radical beliefs of the alumni group but Kennedy chose to grand stand on the subject and not follow the facts. The process in which a nominee enters is good for the country for it gives the people their only real opportunity to see the philosophy of an appointed Justice, but the political grand standing that has been the norm lately has no place in these type of proceedings. The purpose of the hearings are to establish the qualifications of a nominee and NOT to slander his or her character. Yet this is the path that the left has chosen concerning Alito and despite this the judge intellectually and philosophically showed his true self as he stated that if confirmed , "I am who I am and I am my own person." When the attempt was made to back Alito in a corner concerning specific issues that may face the court, he responded with, " I don't think it's appropriate for me to speak about issues that could realistically come up." Though a judge should NOT receive confirmation without review, fairness and civility should prevail during that review. The Democrats seem to neglect both as they continue to grill Alito. This must be an embarrassment to members of the Democratic Party who still believe in civility. This type of character assassination is one of the main reasons that the left finds themselves in the minority and as long as they keep it up, which seems to be their steadfast game plan then in the minority they will stay and deservedly so!

Ken Taylor