Slamming Sammy

For good reason...I received this from the DNC earlier today:

In a few weeks confirmation hearings for Samuel Alito will begin in the Senate. Already serious questions are being raised about his record on important matters such as civil rights. As disturbing facts continue to emerge about Alito, Republicans in the Senate flip-flop on whether every nominee deserves an up or down vote - on one hand they were for it, but when extremist Republican activists soured on Harriet Miers, they decided they were against it. Now that the rightwing is popping Champagne corks for Samuel Alito, they are for it once again.

Keep in mind that the Alito nomination has already failed in one regard -- George Bush hoped it would help push his failure in Iraq off the front page. While this administration's botched management in Iraq has rightfully remained front and center, some disturbing trends have emerged around Alito's record.

You can use our simple letter to the editor tool to spread the word in your community:

www.democrats.org/alitoletter

Here are the facts. When Alito was nominated for his present job on the Court of Appeals, he made a pledge to the U.S. Senate that he would recuse himself from cases where he had a personal interest. On multiple occasions Alito has broken that pledge.

He broke his pledge in 1995 when he ruled on a case that involved his sister's law firm. And he broke his pledge in 2002 when he ruled on a case involving an investment firm where he had a six-figure personal investment.

Still more disturbing has been the series of shifting excuses for these serious ethical lapses. In the case of the investment firm, Alito's sponsors in the White House first claimed that a computer glitch failed to alert Judge Alito of the conflict. When that excuse began to be scrutinized, the explanation suddenly shifted, with administration officials arguing on his behalf that Alito didn't need to recuse himself after all.

Americans deserve a Supreme Court Justice who doesn't need a computer to tell the difference between right and wrong.

You can make sure that your local paper covers these lapses and gives Alito's credibility a serious examination by writing a letter to the editor:

www.democrats.org/alitoletter

And it does not stop there. On a job application for a position in the Reagan administration, Alito pointed to his membership in an organization known as the Concerned Alumni of Princeton. During his time at Princeton and when he was still promoting his membership over a decade later, this group made its name fighting integration of women and minorities on campus.

While his job application clearly points out his membership in this organization, he has now reversed course -- his response to questions from Senators last month was, "I have no recollection of being a member or attending meetings."

A person seeking a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court must be upfront and honest with the Senate -- and with the American people.

Samuel Alito has a lot to answer for -- and your letter right now can set the stage for his hearings and ensure that the American people finally get the truth:

www.democrats.org/alitoletter

Thank you,

Tom McMahon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

P.S. -- Last Friday I wrote to you about a sickening video the Republican National Committee put up on its web site. In response, ordinary people across the country raised over $100,000 for the Democratic Party over the weekend -- taking their attack and turning it into a Democratic victory. Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats on the Sunday political shows called on the RNC to remove the video from its web site. Thank you for getting the word out.

I didn't see the video, by the way, but I heard it was pretty bad.