Filibuster is Last Hope for Opponents of Alito Supreme Court Confirmation

Interview with Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, conducted by Scott Harris

The U.S. Senate hearings on President Bush's Supreme Court nominee, Samuel Alito ended on Jan. 13, with many opponents disturbed by his judicial philosophy and critical of the Judge's unwillingness to answer many questions. The four days of hearings focused on Judge Alito's opinion on several key issues including the Supreme Court landmark Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion; civil rights and the limits of Presidential power. Other questions revolved around Judge Alito's membership in Concerned Alumni of Princeton, an avowedly racist and sexist group and court cases he helped decide involving companies in which he has investments.

With the Republican Party firmly in control of the Senate and Pennsylvania pro-choice Judiciary Committee Chair Arlen Specter announcing his support for Alito, the conventional wisdom is that President Bush's nominee will be easily confirmed. Even opponents of Judge Alito, like Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, said that while she will vote against the nominee, she would not participate in a filibuster to block his confirmation.

However, a coalition of progressive groups around the nation are not buying the conventional wisdom, and have launched a campaign to convince enough Democrats and moderate Republicans to stop Alito from replacing retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women, who assesses the Senate confirmation hearings and explains why her group is strongly opposing the nomination of Samuel Alito.

Contact NOW by calling (202) 628-8669, or visit their website at www.now.org

Related links:

People for the American Way www.PFAW.org National Lawyers Guild at www.nlg.org

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

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