The Senate confirmation of John Roberts to become William H. Rehnquist's successor as the nation's 17th chief justice will finally come on Thursday after much deliberation. And although Republicans and Democrats have been squabbling about President Bush's nominee for the past few months, the relatively new factor of the replacement to retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has sparked a vital part of the debate.
Hoping to call attention to Bush's next pick for Supreme Court justice, many Democrats are resisting acceptance of Roberts, but considering President Bush's strong conservative leanings, he is likely one of the more acceptable candidates that Bush would advance.
The Democrat's reservations over Roberts did not hold true when no serious controversies surfaced during the hearings, and, in the end, his candidacy has received some fairly surprising support - both The Washington Post and The New Republic, two publications that are far from conservative, have called for his confirmation. Although Roberts is highly qualified and has received support from both parties, some Democrats will refuse to confirm Roberts because of his perceived views on controversial issues such as abortion and to express disappointment that some documents regarding the candidate were not released. With Roberts already having the indicated support of approximately two-thirds of the 100-member Senate, the confirmation is seemingly a certainty. Democrats should confirm Roberts as a tolerable candidate - keeping in mind the leeway they might generate for the next time around. The Democratic support of Roberts should not be taken as a guarantee that a more conservative candidate would be welcomed with open arms. Bush in turn should appoint a reasonably moderate candidate next time around - and not someone who mirrors current justices Antonin Scalia or Clarence Thomas.
Bush has indicated that he is leaning towards nominating a woman or minority candidate to replace O'Connor - who typically acted as the court's swing vote on a number of issues. That consideration towards the diversity on the Supreme Court would be a commendable effort on the president's part. Democrats should support the Roberts nomination in order to be able to claim that they did not just reject Roberts on a partisan level, and also to be in a stronger position for the next round of confirmation hearings.
17 Archives
Acceptable choice under circumstances
