by Colby Itkowitz
Sen. Arlen Specter says that although Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's "did little to undo the impression that nominating hearings are little more than a charade," he will support her.
Although Specter famously opposed Robert Bork to the anger of his then Republican party, Specter has never voted against any of the sitting judges. Specter is known to play hardball during confirmation hearings, but then ultimately votes for the nominee.
Revealing his decision in a USA Today op-ed, he provides all the reasons why he may not have voted for her, noting that she failed to give "meaningful" answers to a long list of issues he inquired about.
But, he concludes that: "In addition to her intellect, academic and professional qualifications, Kagan did just enough to win my vote by her answers that television would be good for the country and the court, and by identifying Justice Marshall as her role model."
Read Specter's full op-ed here.
Comments
Oh, great! With Justice Marshall as her role model (Thurgood not John), we can be assured that she will find parts of the Constitution unconstitutional and make statutes mean something that is unsupported by their language. Thurgood Marshall did this quite frequently. But, of course, Senator "magic bullet" Specter will support her anyway.
Posted by: John W. | July 15, 2010 11:31 AM
Unlike Alito and Roberts, who lied under oath during their confirmation process and should be impeached and prosecuted, Elena Kagan answered all questions openly and honestly. She will be the next Supreme Court Justice much to the dismay of racists and bigots like Orion Hatch (R-UT) and little man Jeff Sessions (R-AL).
Posted by: Doug R. | July 15, 2010 1:37 PM
Is Spector trying for the Academy Awards? What a phoney about his opposition. Does anyone really believe he felt this way in the first place? He's putting on a show for his constituants.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | July 15, 2010 5:44 PM
Doug R - What's that racists thing? Last time I looked she was pretty white. You guys make everything about race, give it a rest.
Posted by: vla | July 15, 2010 6:01 PM
Doogie,
Please prodeuce those lies.
Lochness,
Thank God it will soon be his ex- constituants.
Posted by: Terry | July 15, 2010 9:22 PM
Doug R.
Do you have anything to that that claim up about so-called lies. Or are you just spouting more liberal drool?
Posted by: Crooks_In_ DC | July 15, 2010 10:16 PM
Arlen will be showing up in the administration with some cushy title - this fool voted against Kagen for Solicitor General but gives her nod for the Supreme Court? You can bet this vote cost Obama something, Spector can't live without a title or some form of self-importance to cling to.
Posted by: vla | July 16, 2010 9:55 AM
Please...Specter put as much thought into position this as Murderer Boy did when we started the war on Eye Wrack, i.e., none. And if he'd still been a Republicant, he'd put exactly as much thought into opposing her nomination. Specter's always been a chump and this is just another example of his chumpitude.
Posted by: a blinkin | July 16, 2010 11:11 AM
Blinky,
With quotes like this from those in power in DC, I could see why you are a skeptic: "We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction."
Posted by: Terry | July 16, 2010 11:02 PM
I believe Barack delivered some very harsh remarks about Roberts and Alito in Senate speechs and voted against them.
I recall Specter threatening Anita Hill with a perjury rap during the Thomas hearings.
So I guess Elena Kagan should be happy she has been "praised with faint damns" by Arlen.
With him, that's about as good as it gets.
It's possible that Barack could have 2 more nominations before Jan 20, 2017.
Maybe more....
Posted by: ornery | July 18, 2010 3:17 PM