If there is anything that Bush Administration is continuing by nominating John Roberts - it is their penchant for the unethical and a flair for lying with a straight face.
Take this gem for example:
Roberts was Ken Starr's Deputy at Justice Department. During the Clinton investigation, Roberts praised Starr's "professionalism, his discretion and his judgment." [Investors Business Daily, 2/10/98]
(Hat tip CarpetBagger Report)
That is just the beginning.
John Roberts is a long-time DC conservative insider and Republican political appointee and now is President Bush's choice for the high court. It is obvious with this choice that the administration chooses to American's growing concern with their ethical lapses and will continue fast and loose with the facts, while holding ideology over the truth. This is unacceptable in any nominee to any position - much less the highest court in the land.
For example, while arguing a case at a private law firm, Roberts argued against the Clean Water Act for a food processing client. In a strongly worded opinion, a district criticized Roberts for: "mischaracterizing and distorting the court's holding, the law, and the evidence."
They explained "Quotes are being taken out of context, and it appears that words are being conveniently deleted or added for purposes of argument." After giving several examples of unethical conduct , the court explained his "assertion with respect to the Memorandum was factually unsupported by the record" and "a totally misleading argument presented to this court." [United States v. Smithfield Foods, Inc.]
This is just one example of this lawyer's contempt for the facts - and his moves to follow in the footsteps of Karl Rove and company. There will be more.
He is barely a judge - serving less than two years on the court - but he has spent 10 years working for high powered and before that 5 years as a political appointee to the Reagan and the first Bush Administration. He is wrong for many reasons as we will no doubt see our inboxes flooded for them.
But let's remember Roberts is a political animal at heart. Roberts gave to many Republicans he was a political appointee to different Republican White Houses. As a result there is a paper trail about many of his opinions and memos he wrote while in the White House. And America should see those memos and papers to understand the understanding this appointee - and I garuntee they will try and hide his memos from when he at the White House for America to get a real understanding of what he believes. Because that is what they do.
Finally, let us remember: Bush adviser Karl Rove has been involved in the discussions over the prospective nominee, administration and outside sources said. [Chicago Tribune, 6/25/2005]
Did Rove himself help move the announcement and speed up the process to try and take away from his own troubles?
That is the same advisor that disclosed the identity of a critical asset in the war on terror and President Bush and has yet to admit that he has done anything wrong. Now this clouds their supreme Court nominee.
So Bush has withdrawn on his word as he did last night by appointing a truth-challenged nominee to the Supreme Court that hardly fits into the mainstream of America. We should be sure to make sure America knows that the Bush Administration is continuing in their usual pattern of attempting to circumvent reality and impose a conservative ideology to America.
I think many of us here on DailyKos can agree that Senate has to preserve the Honor and Integrity of our courts.