. . . and so do Republicans
Brownback and Coburn:
"It is going to be different," said Senator Lincoln Chafee, Republican of Rhode Island, who is socially liberal and has said he will vote to confirm Judge Roberts.
Mr. Chafee said he would apply a more skeptical standard to the next nominee because of the balance of the court and might even oppose a jurist similar to Judge Roberts. "I will be looking very carefully" at the next nominee's views on privacy rights, "separation of church and state," and the scope of federal power, he said.
Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, a Republican who supports abortion rights and has said she will vote to confirm Judge Roberts, took a similar view. She previously voted to confirm some of Mr. Bush's appeals court nominees who met stiff liberal opposition, like Judge Priscilla R. Owen and Judge Janice Rogers Brown, two people said to be on Mr. Bush's shortlist. But Ms. Snowe said she might not support either one for the Supreme Court. "This is certainly a different level of evaluation," Ms. Snowe said, "especially because of the balance of power on the court."
On the conservative side of the party, Mr. Brownback and Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, another member of the Judiciary Committee, devoted much of their time for questioning Judge Roberts to delivering messages to the White House about the importance of overturning precedents supporting abortion rights.
In an interview last week, Mr. Brownback said he would vote against a nominee who was not "solid and known" on cultural issues like abortion, same-sex marriage and religion in public life. "If the president doesn't nominate a solid nominee, that is going counter to what he campaigned on," Mr. Brownback said. And if such a nominee "involves a contentious battle, then let it be." "I think you are going to see a contentious battle regardless of who is nominated," he added, "even if it is Judge Roberts's twin brother."
Well, Democrats have an opportunity that has just been handed to them -- declare now, as have the Republicans -- the next nomination is extraordinary. And that a nominee's views on specific legal questions must be aired for the Senate to perform its Constitutional duty of advice and consent.
I would like to hear Senators Patrick Leahy and Russell Feingold be the first to take up this theme. They must set the tone. Wasn't that the idea behind Leahy's Yes vote on Roberts?
Update [2005-9-24 14:34:56 by Armando]: Here is a chance for Leahy to prove
Kagro and I wrong. If he does not, then Kagro nails it.
Update [2005-9-24 14:47:28 by Armando]: See also
RonK for a different take.
