Judge Roberts faces abortion litmus test
By
John Breneman
While Republican supporters hail John G. Roberts as a strict
constitutionalist who will certainly vote to overturn Roe
v. Wade, Democratic critics are assailing the Supreme Court
nominee as a strict constitutionalist who will certainly vote
to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Despite the fact that politicians always deny there is any
"litmus
test" for evaluating nominees, Supreme Court
hopefuls for the last three decades have been judged on their
relative acidity to or basic support of a woman’s right to
choose.
Sen. Edward Kennedy was reportedly seen chasing after Roberts
with a slip of paper that would turn red if, as expected,
Roberts is hostile to Roe v. Wade and blue if he is even remotely
sympathetic or open-minded. Instead the chubby Kennedy turned
red from over-exertion, then passed out and turned blue until
a paramedic resuscitated him by administering a ham sandwich.
There is widespread consensus that Roberts possesses a brilliant
legal mind and impressive credentials. And though both sides
are comfortable with his rambunctious
four-year-old son, Democrats have expressed angst
about his openly pro-life wife.
Also troubling to some women’s groups, Roberts’ judicial
record reveals no indication on how he would rule should the
contentious Brad Pitt v. Jennifer Aniston divorce proceeding
reach the high court.