RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman Remarks On The Confirmation Hearings Of Judge Samuel Alito
1/9/2006 2:57:00 PM
To: National Desk, Supreme Court Reporter, Political Reporter
Contact: Tracey Schmitt of Republican National Committee, 202-863-8614; Web:
http://www.gop.comWASHINGTON, Jan. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman spoke today on a conference call with reporters about the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito and the confirmation hearings that began today in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The following are excerpts from Chairman Mehlman's remarks.
Chairman Mehlman On The Confirmation Hearings:
"We are today beginning a confirmation process that I'm confident will result in Judge Alito's confirmation for several reasons. You've got the most qualified nominee in seventy years -- someone who's twice been unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate.
"Somebody who has the highest rating possible by the American Bar Association - a rating which Democrats have likened to the quote, 'gold standard,' unquote, of judicial rating. Someone who has a long history of calling it like he sees it, being in the words of Justice Roberts, 'an umpire,' who fairly applies the law. Someone who's committed to judicial restraint, and therefore hopefully the Senate has an opportunity to not only help the American people hear an important discussion of jurisprudential issues, but also to elevate the debate in the United States Senate and have a serious discussion about the serious issues Judge Alito is likely to face. I hope that's the route that the Senators take.
"I was a little bit concerned by some of the commentary I heard on yesterday's talk shows that it took a different route. You may remember back during the beginning of this process when The Washington Post exposed a statement by a Nan Aron of The Alliance for Justice. When she was asked what they would do to block Judge Alito, she said quote, "you name it, we'll do it," unquote. And unfortunately we've heard some statements this past weekend that makes one think that Nan Aron is the puppet master and Democrat leaders are the puppets.
"You heard from Chairman Dean, you heard from Senator Schumer, Senator Kennedy, and others, statements that not only distorted and took out of context Judge Alito's record, but also personally smear him and attacked his character. I think this has no place in the process. I think the American people and Judge Alito deserve a fair hearing.
"I hope the Democrats in the Senate will follow the precedent Republicans did in 1993 with Judge Ginsberg, a hearing process that was fair, a hearing process that recognized that while people might disagree their ultimate goal was to determine if she was qualified and had the character and temperament to be a good federal judge. They concluded she did. Clearly Judge Alito does too. And hope that the anger, the personal attack, the smears we saw this past weekend will not be continued during the week."
Chairman Mehlman On Democrats Attacking Judge Alito's Character:
"...First of all, I think that this bringing up of this Concerned Alumni of Princeton and its associated prospect magazine is wrong. Here's a guy that was a member of the ROTC, was concerned when Princeton decided to throw the ROTC off campus, at the same time concerned that, as I would be I have to tell you, when a survey of students finds that Mao Zedong, the greatest murderer in the 20th Century has a higher favorable rating of Princeton students than either Dwight Eisenhower or Harry Truman. That's when this organization was set up. (Alito) Joins a group, has no association with the group. Then, statements made by a magazine associated with the group are somehow ascribed to him. I think that's outrageous. I think that's out of line, and entirely in appropriate and unfair.
"Secondly, this whole issue of Vanguard. Here's something that's been reviewed repeatedly by ethicists and by people that look at the code of conduct governing federal judges, repeatedly found to be entirely appropriate and he's attacked for it, even though Senator Kennedy viewing a similar situation with respect to Justice Bryer, made the opposite finding. So those are two examples I think where you're having someone's character being attacked and distorted."
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http://www.usnewswire.com/http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=59024
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