Key Democrats Say Alito is No Shoo-in for Court ; Schumer: Too Many Questions, Doubts

By JESSE J. HOLLAND, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON – Democrats said Wednesday that Samuel Alito’s confirmation was not guaranteed as senators kept the focus on a 20- year-old document in which the Supreme Court nominee asserted that the Constitution “does not protect a right to an abortion.”

“Anyone who thinks that this nomination is a foregone conclusion is sadly mistaken,” said Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, one of several Democrats who used Senate speeches to criticize Alito.

“There are too many questions still to be answered, too many doubts still to be alleviated to say that this nomination is a slam dunk,” Schumer said.

Conservative Republicans came to Alito’s defense, with some committing their votes more than a month before his Jan. 9 confirmation hearing.

Others are warning Democrats not to think about using a filibuster to stop the federal appeals court judge from succeeding retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She has provided pivotal votes on contentious issues, including abortion, during her 24 years on the court.

“Even a suggestion that he doesn’t deserve an up-or-down vote is outrageous,” said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.

As conservative and liberal senators bickered, outside advocacy groups planned dueling television advertisements for the Senate’s Thanksgiving break.

Groups including the liberal Alliance for Justice plan to announce a television campaign today, while the conservative Committee for Justice plans to respond with a Thanksgiving week ad blitz.

Liberal groups “have been allowed to determine the terms of the debate,” said Sean Rushton, the conservative group’s spokesman. “We are pushing back.”

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, described her group’s ad as “a coordinated grass-roots effort to expose Alito’s legal philosophy, which does not protect core liberties, such as a woman’s constitutional right to choose.”

Alito, of West Caldwell, has gotten generally positive reviews from senators since the White House announced his nomination on Oct. 31 as the replacement for Harriet Miers, who withdrew her nomination.

Democrats and Republicans have praised Alito’s knowledge, intelligence and his willingness to answer their questions during the private meetings.

But three influential Democrats – Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, liberal stalwart Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Schumer – said in Senate speeches that they had “significant concerns” about Alito’s nomination.

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