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Pelosi Statement Opposing Nomination of Judge Samuel Alito for the U.S. Supreme Court

January 20, 2006

Pelosi Statement Opposing Nomination of Judge Samuel Alito for the U.S. Supreme Court

Friday, January 20, 2006

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. â€" House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today, announcing her opposition to the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito for the U.S. Supreme Court:

â€Å"The nomination to succeed Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is extremely critical for the balance of the Supreme Court and for our Constitutional rights. Justice O’Connor has played an indispensable and pivotal role in preserving our right to privacy, and the American people expect a nominee who shares this commitment.

â€Å"As we mark the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade this weekend, which ensures a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health care decisions, we must be ever vigilant to uphold the precedent of Roe. This decision was based upon a woman’s fundamental right to privacy â€" a fundamental value that all Americans cherish.

â€Å"Our values face unprecedented challenges. Unfortunately, Judge Samuel Alito has not met the heavy burden of demonstrating that he will uphold our individual rights and civil rights. Instead, he has shown every indication that he will promote a narrow, ideological agenda, and favor big businesses at the expense of the American people.

â€Å"At a time when the President is unilaterally asserting expansive and unprecedented powers to conduct domestic surveillance and when the federal government is encroaching on the privacy rights of the American people as never before, Judge Alito’s documented record of excessive deference to the President’s power is a risk we cannot take.

â€Å"Confirming Judge Alito will not only put our liberties and civil rights in jeopardy, but also the checks and balances in our Constitutional system of government. Therefore, I believe the Senate should not confirm him to the United States Supreme Court.”