DEMOCRAT MINORITY LEADER HARRY REID (D-NV) FLIP FLOPS ON ALITO FILIBUSTER
Statement by Nevada Republican Party Chairman Paul Adams on Senator Reid’s Flip Flop on the Alito Filibuster.
Las Vegas, NV: “It’s not surprising that the idea for Sen. Reid’s filibuster flip-flop originated on Sen. John Kerry’s Swiss vacation. The Democrats’ pathetic attempts to filibuster Judge Samuel Alito’s nomination shows that Reid has firmly sided with the liberal special interest groups opposed to Alito because they realize he will strictly interpret the Constitution as it is written rather than legislate from the bench. Alito is the most qualified Supreme Court nominee in more than seven decades, but the facts of the matter at hand have never been sufficient to stop Reid from representing the Massachusetts Senator that was rejected by Nevadans a year ago.”
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Flip Flops On Alito Filibuster:
“Senator Harry Reid Opposes Samuel Alito But The Democratic Leader Is Signaling He Will NOT Back A Filibuster To Keep Him Off The Supreme Court. The Nevada Democrat Told Reporters Yesterday … ‘There's Been Adequate Time For People To Debate.” (“Reid Won't Support Filibuster On Alito,” The Associated Press, 1/27/06)
Fox’s Bridgette Quinn: “As You Might Know, John Kerry … Was Trying To Get A Filibuster
Going. Senator Reid Did Not Seem To Be On Board With That. This Morning He Seems To Be
Couching His Language Just A Little Bit, Saying That He Would Vote To Sustain A Filibuster
Should Opportunity Come Around …” (“Fox News Alert,” 1/27/06)
“The Nevada Democrat Said, However, He Would Vote For Such A Measure To At Least Send A Message Of Opposition To The Nominee.” (“Reid Admits US Democrats Can’t Block Alito,” Reuters, 1/27/06)
After The Alito Hearings, Liberal Third Parties Demanded A Filibuster:
National Organization For Women (NOW): “Due To The Current Balance Of Power In The Senate (55 Republicans, 44 Democrats), We Do Not Have The Necessary 51 ‘No’ Votes To Defeat Alito Outright. So The Only Way For Senators To Block Confirmation Is For Them To Launch A Filibuster … Make The Message To Your Senators Clear: Our Nation Needs Them To Do More Than Vote No. They Must Support A Filibuster In Order To Prevent Alito's Confirmation To The Supreme Court.” (National Organization For Women Email, “Alito Must Not Be Confirmed – Demand A Filibuster Today,” 1/17/06)
? NOW even threatens Senators If They Remain Silent On The Alito Nomination. “NOW President Kim Gandy writes in her Below the Belt column, ‘Let’s tell them again that our lives, hopes, and futures depend on their courage. They cannot hide silently in the face of such a disaster. Let’s let the Senators know what we in the feminist movement have known for years: YOUR SILENCE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU.’” (National Organization For Women Email, “Your Silence Will Not Protect You,” 1/25/06)
MoveOn Political Action: “[I]t’s Important To Act Now, Because The Democrats And Moderate Republicans Who Oppose Alito Have Still Not Decided If They Will Mount A Filibuster To Block His Nomination – But They Must Decide Soon.” (MoveOn Political Action Email, “Alito: Write To Expose Bush’s Power
People For The American Way: “Alito’s Nomination Is Being Debated On The Senate Floor As We Speak. Call Your Senators And Democratic Leaders Reid And Leahy Now. Tell Them The Time To Stand Up Is Now – Ask Them To Make A Commitment To Do Everything Possible To Defeat Alito’s Nomination.” (People For The American Way Email, “The Time To Stand Up Is Now,” 1/25/06)
National Abortion Federation: “[T]he National Abortion Federation Calls On Senators To Use The Filibuster To Stop The Confirmation Of Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito Because Of His Extreme Views On The Right To Privacy And Roe V. Wade.” (National Abortion Federation, “National Abortion Federation Calls On Senators To Filibuster The Nomination Of Samuel Alito,” Press Release, 1/26/06)
Out Of Touch Puppet Senators Responded To Liberal Third Parties’ Calls For A Filibuster:
“[Sen. John] Kerry, In Davos, Switzerland, To Attend The World Economic Forum … Was Marshaling Support To Block The Nomination In Phone Calls During The Day.” (“Wyden To Support Filibuster Of Alito Nomination,” KGW.Com, 1/26/06)
? Kerry: “I Support A Filibuster Of Judge Alito’s Nomination. Judge Alito’s Confirmation Would Be An Ideological Coup On The Supreme Court. We Can’t Afford To See The Court’s Swing Vote, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Replaced With A Far-Right Ideologue Like Samuel Alito.” (Sen. John Kerry Website, http://kerry.senate.gov, Accessed 1/27/06)
“Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy Also Said Thursday He Would Support A Filibuster, Though He Described It As ‘An Uphill Climb.’” (“GOP sets up showdown over Alito,” CNN.com, 1/24/06)
“In Addition To Kennedy And Kerry, Supporters Of A Filibuster Included Sens. Barbara Boxer Of California, Richard J. Durbin Of Illinois, Debbie Stabenow Of Michigan And Paul S. Sarbanes Of Maryland.” (Maura Reynolds, “Key Democrats Try To Mount Filibuster Against Alito,” Los Angeles Times, 1/26/06)
? Boxer: “There Is Only One Way To Send This Nomination Back To The President ... And That Is To Get 41 Votes For A Filibuster …” (Maura Reynolds, “Key Democrats Try To Mount Filibuster Against Alito,” Los Angeles Times, 1/26/06)
Liberal Third Parties Immediately Praised Puppet Senators Kerry And Kennedy:
People For The American Way: “Senators Kennedy And Kerry Just Called For A Filibuster Of The Alito Nomination! This Is An Important Turning Point In This Battle, With Key Senators Heeding Our Calls To Do Everything Possible To Prevent Alito From Getting On The Supreme Court.” (People For The American Way Email, “Senators Call For Alito Filibuster!” 1/27/06)
National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP): “We Believe That As Debate Continues, Opposition To This Nomination Will Grow, And We Urge Support For The Kennedy-Kerry Filibuster.” (National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People, “NAACP Today Called For Senate To Continue Debate On Nomination Of Judge Samuel Alito To A Seat On The U.S. Supreme Court,” Press Release, 1/27/06)
