Bush trying to screw up more of the country.

Many (probably most) of you read my wife's journal dyanearden and saw her post about the phone call about my letter to the editor. That letter was in response to an E-mail I got from MoveOn.org, and was about how the nomination of John Robert for the Supreme Court was a smokescreen to take attention off the investigation of Karl Rove. Well, I just got another E-mail from MoveOn.org about Roberts, and I'm posting it here for you to look at, and see what you think.


Last week, press aides at the White House made a furious round of phone calls: a number of major newspapers had printed that John Roberts was a member of the secretive far-right Federalist Society. Roberts denied "recalling" that he was a member, and so the White House demanded a correction. Retractions were printed. But just this morning The Washington Post released an internal directory proving Roberts served on the steering committee of the Washington Federalist Society chapter.1

This is not an isolated episode. The White House is banking on a strategy of hiding Roberts' right-wing views and focusing on his non-confrontational personality.2 And so far, most newspapers and networks have bought in, spending a lot more time speculating about how easily Roberts will be confirmed than doing the investigative reporting that the country deserves.3 To get more of the real journalism this issue demands we're going to have to ask for it.

Please take a minute to call or write the outlets where you have gotten your coverage of the Roberts nomination, and ask them to focus on the facts of Roberts' record—not on the administration's spin. You can find contact information for your news outlets here:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=811

Roberts' record as a right wing partisan and corporate advocate poses many concerns about how his confirmation would threaten core rights. Here are some direct questions that we could use some better reporting on:

1) How would his years advocating, lobbying and then ruling in favor of corporate power affect his defense of the public interest?

Here's what we know:

* As a corporate lawyer Roberts fought to gut the Americans with Disabilities Act, denying lawful accommodation for workers injured over time as part of their job.4

* He helped a major car manufacturer avoid a recall when their seatbelts were found to violate federal safety standards.5

* Argued for the National Mining Association to overturn a ruling that restricted mountain top removal practices devastating to Appalachian communities.6

* In his brief tenure as a judge, he argued for a very limited view of congressional authority to regulate corporate excess that could threaten broad swaths of environmental protections, workers rights, and anti-discrimination laws.7


2) How would Roberts affect privacy rights currently protected by the constitution?

Here's what we know:

* Roberts argued to the Supreme Court that Roe v Wade should be "overruled".8

* He won a case blocking doctors in many cases from even discussing reproductive options with their patients.9

* He has ruled in favor of sweeping powers for the commander-in-chief in this state of perpetual war—with frightening implications for our civil liberties.10

3) How would Robert's partisan allegiance affect his judgment? (For example in cases like Bush v. Gore)

Here's what we know:

* He advised Jeb Bush during the Florida recount debacle.11

* As a lawyer for the Reagan and Bush Sr. White House, he advocated for right wing ideology over free speech,12 religious liberty13 and voting rights for minorities.14
* Roberts has been a life long partisan Republican, a claim the New York Times calls "indisputable,"15 and has donated thousands of dollars to exclusively Republican candidates.16


Roberts' stealth candidacy for the Supreme Court is particularly dangerous because his personal qualities can be used to conceal a very hard line judicial philosophy. Here's how commentator E.J. Dionne put it:

"Judge John G Roberts Jr.. could turn out to be Antonin Scalia with a Washington Establishment smile... And he is David Souter turned on his head—a stealth candidate whose winning personality disguises intense conservatism, not moderation. Roberts could move the court well to the right yet grin his way through the confirmation process....All of which means that the next two weeks will be crucial in determining how the Roberts confirmation battle goes." 17

It's also important to remember that facts of Roberts' record that are already clear were more than sufficient to earn him immediate endorsements on the far-right—even from many of the same people who said Alberto Gonzales was far too liberal:

* The violent anti-choice group Operation Rescue said, "We pray that Judge Roberts will be swiftly confirmed."18
* James Dobson of Focus on the Family called Roberts "unquestionably qualified"19
* Pat Robertson said Roberts was "at the top" of his own list of candidates for the court vacancy.20
* Tony Perkins of the ultra-conservative Family Research Council said "The President ... promised to nominate someone along the lines of a Scalia or a Thomas and that is exactly what he has done."21

The more facts that come out about Roberts' record, the clearer the danger he poses to our rights and freedoms. It's vital that the news media get back to the hard work of collecting and reporting on the facts of his record. We are facing the prospect of 30 or 40 years of Roberts on the Supreme Court, and we must apply the highest standard of scrutiny.

Together, we can help shift the coverage from the bottom up by contacting our news sources and simply asking them to focus on Roberts' record.




So, it looks to me as if Mr. Bush is again pushing for his far-right backers, and ignoring the views of the majority of the country. Those of you who are American voters please consider a letter to your Congress-people expressing your views, and letting them know how you feel about this choice. You are also welcome to link back to this post to show others on LJ, and get them to write, as well. Thank you.

David W. Pollay
US Army Veteran and real Republican