Roe Threat: Alito’s Own Words Reveal Anti-Choice Legal Philosophy
(Portland, OR) – Yesterday’s revelation that Samuel Alito submitted written evidence of his judicial opposition to Roe v. Wade is confirmation of the Supreme Court nominee’s threat to personal freedom and civil liberties. Michele Stranger-Hunter, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, announced that the organization is urging all pro-choice Oregonians to contact Senators Smith and Wyden regarding this newest information.
“Mr. Alito proudly endorsed the Reagan administration’s aggressive anti-choice agenda, and made clear that he supports the legal argument that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided. As a Supreme Court Justice, he would have the opportunity to dismantle reproductive rights to the point where Roe is almost meaningless, or even vote to overturn Roe. Pro-choice Oregonians want their Senators to press Mr. Alito on why he chose to highlight his disregard for women’s fundamental freedom in a job application. This is a fair question about his legal philosophy, regarding a matter that is of vital importance to Oregonians – personal freedom. Mr. Alito owes the public a direct and clear answer, and constituents must make it clear to our representatives in the Senate that we demand this issue be fully investigated and discussed as the nomination process continues.”
In a written answer to questions contained in Alito’s application for a key post in the Reagan administration’s Justice Department, he wrote: “[I]t has been an honor and source of personal satisfaction for me to serve in the office of the Solicitor General during President Reagan’s administration and to help advance legal positions in which I personally believe very strongly. I am particularly proud of my contributions in recent cases in which the government has argued in the Supreme Court . . . that the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion.”
Stranger-Hunter states: “We are disappointed, but not surprised, by this confirmation of the threat Samuel Alito poses not just to Roe, but to civil liberties and reproductive freedoms in general. This revelation is further evidence that anti-choice groups got exactly what they ordered from President Bush. This new information about Alito’s legal philosophy further puts him out of the mainstream. The White House tells the public to ignore Alito’s own written documentation of his legal philosophy. Then the Bush administration turns around and uses the same documents to assure far right groups of Alito’s anti-choice positions. Oregonians clearly can not trust the Bush White House to accurately represent the true stance of this extremely conservative candidate.”
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