Sen. Salazar to Vote Against Alito Nomination (press release)

U.S. Senator Ken Salazar
Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs Committees

For Immediate Release

January 19, 2006

Washington, DC - Today, Sen. Ken Salazar announced his opposition to
Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. His statement follows:

"I will vote against the confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to the
United States Supreme Court. I am convinced, based upon a very careful
review of his record, that Judge Alito will move the Supreme Court
outside the mainstream of American law. Judge Alito's judicial
philosophy will expand Executive power too far, hurt the checks and
balances built into our Constitution to protect us all, and roll back
important civil rights protections that were achieved in our country
through the sacrifices of many.

"My decision to vote against Judge Alito contrasts sharply with my
decision to support John Roberts as Chief Justice of the United States.

"Here is why I conclude that Judge Alito is the wrong person for this
seat on this Court at this time in our Nation's history:

* Judge Alito would place too much power in the hands of the
President of the United States, at the cost of the protective system of
checks and balances built into our Constitution. For example, in 2000
Judge Alito gave a speech to the Federalist Society that extolled the
virtues of the unitary executive branch. This theory would expand
significantly the powers of the President to control agencies and other
government institutions. It would destroy an important system of checks
and balances within the Executive Branch.
* Judge Alito would close Nation's courthouses to the weakest and
poorest among us. In Sheridan v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours, Judge Alito
registered the lone dissent among 13 judges, voting to prevent a woman
who had presented evidence of employment gender discrimination from
going to trial. In PIRG of New Jersey, Judge Alito denied access to the
courts for environmental plaintiffs who had won in the lower court. In
Doe v. Groody, Judge Alito would have upheld the strip search of a 10
year old girl. In Riley, Judge Alito rejected claims of an African
American defendant, and was later overturned by the entire court, in a
case where the conviction by an all white jury was improper because
black jurors had been impermissibly prevented from jury service.
* Judge Alito would reverse our progress on the laws that promote
diversity in our country. Justice O'Connor was the deciding vote in the
Grutter case, the 2003 decision that affirmed that diversity is a
compelling state interest justifying an admissions process that builds a
diverse student body. Justice Alito is very unlikely to agree with
Justice O'Connor on this issue, imperiling a decision I believe to be
vitally important to the future of our country.

"For these reasons, I will vote against the confirmation of Judge Alito
to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the United States Supreme
Court."

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All who voted for Roberts are mentioning it in their report saying they will reject Scalito - Awesome strategy, noone can accuse them of being obstructionists!!! only voting against him because he is a puke Nazi.

no votes don't mean squat.

But when I called his office to ask him to oppose Alito I also added that I would support a fillibuster if necessary.

Bill Nelson?

If Bill does not stand up I do not know what I am going to do. I cannot vote Republican in good conscience and I hate denying a vote to a Democrat at the risk of a Republican getting in, but....damn it would hurt to vote for him if he does not show a spine with respect to Alito.

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scAlito must be stopped. No is not enough.

The flood of calls and e-mails from us is having an impact. If we keep it up, we can win.

His mailboxes are jammed full. Two of his offices are taking messages, Pueblo & Ft. Morgan. See my post in the forum for the #'s.