supreme court

Special Interest Groups Gear up for Alito

By Paul Strand
Washington Sr. Correspondent

CBN.com – WASHINGTON - Samuel Alito's Supreme Court confirmation hearing begins Monday, and interest groups are holding news conferences and putting out ads.

Some feminist groups have been warning that Alito would be bad for women's rights, but no one gathered today at the National Press Club.

The conservative women's groups came to praise Alito, but first they had to put up with a sudden and loud intrusion by pro-choice protestors.

One protestor yelled, "Bush and Alito will outlaw abortion and women will die!"

But conservative Connie Mackey of the Family Research Council shot back, "You don't represent the majority of American women."

"We feel called as women to stand in opposition to the shrill, radical women's organizations set to destroy Judge Alito, John Roberts and, frankly, any other Bush nominee." Mackey said.

Pro-choice and liberal groups have been touting the line that Alito will be a for-sure vote against abortion, although the record on him is much too mixed to prove that.

But even if he is pro-life, Kelly Ann Conway of the Polling Company cited a recent ABC poll to show the American people might not mind that.

"By a margin of nearly four-to-one, the American people said they'd prefer the United States Supreme Court to make it harder to get an abortion than easier,” Conway said.

Also at the Press Club today were a group of conservative black clergymen who came out in support of Alito -- mostly because they feel he will back family values and not be a liberal judicial activist.

"A judge that is not an activist judge can protect rights. The real danger that we have is black-robed vigilantes doing whatever they want to, and violating the expressed will of the people," said Pastor Harry Jackson Jr. of Hope Christian Church.

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