Reply #20: Meanwhile: No More Smooth Sailing – Roberts' Nomination Has Hit ... [View All]

[liberal N proud]

Stormy Waters!
Tell Your Senators to Demand Full Disclosure from the White House.
Tens of thousands of you have already sent a message to the Senate: Accept nothing less than full cooperation from the White House and John Roberts! While they're home during the August recess, your Senators need to hear us demand that they stand tall and do their constitutional duty.

Petition your senators now!

Each day brings more troubling news about Roberts’ approach to our constitutional and civil rights--and more evidence that the White House can’t be allowed to keep important parts of Roberts’ record secret. Based on what we already know, Roberts has a lot of explaining to do.

When Roberts worked for the Reagan Justice Department, for example, he derided what he termed the “so-called” right to privacy and said that it is “not to be found in the Constitution.” The Washington Post reported yesterday that Roberts, referring to the Supreme Court’s landmark privacy ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut, praised a dissent that would have permitted states to prosecute people for using contraceptives--even married couples!


But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Here are some highlights from what the press uncovered over the last week. While working under Republican presidents, John Roberts:

supported regulatory changes that would have permitted the federal funding of discrimination against women, minorities, people with disabilities, and older Americans (Washington Post, July 26 );
argued that Congress should strip the Supreme Court of authority to rule on cases regarding abortion, school prayer, and certain school desegregation remedies (New York Times, July 28 );
argued that affirmative action programs were bound to fail because they required "the recruiting of inadequately prepared candidates" (New York Times, July 28 );
criticized the Supreme Court decision forbidding organized prayer in public schools;
sought to expand the ability of prosecutors and police to question suspects out of the presence of their attorneys (Washington Post, July 26 );
and argued that the Justice Department should not intervene on behalf of female prisoners who were discriminated against in a job-training program (New York Times, July 28 );
…and this information comes from documents the White House willingly made available!

John Roberts is up for one of the most critical jobs in our democracy. Given emerging reports like the ones above, the Senate must conduct a comprehensive review process--and that includes demanding full cooperation from the White House and answers from nominee Roberts.

Don't forget: even some Senators who support Roberts will stand up for other Senators' right to ask questions – especially if they know the public expects it.

Whether your senators are Republican or Democrat, they need to know that their public is on the side of full disclosure. It's the American Way.

Tell them with our petition right now. If you have already signed, get your friends on board!
http://Petition.SaveTheCourt.org

– Your Allies at People For the American Way