Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid evidently has buyers’ regret. He says that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts misled the Senate “pretending to be moderate.” Politico reports:
“Roberts didn’t tell us the truth. At least Alito told us who he was,” Reid said, referring to Samuel Alito, the second Supreme Court justice nominated by President George W. Bush. “But we’re stuck with those two young men, and we’ll try to change by having some moderates in the federal courts system as time goes on — I think that will happen.”
Reid’s comments, which came during a wide-ranging discussion hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, reflect Democratic concerns that Roberts presented himself as a neutral arbiter of the law but has wielded a relentlessly conservative agenda. Republicans reject the attacks, saying Roberts has been a fair judge and has been consistent in his opinions.
I listened to some of the confirmation hearings for Roberts and had a chance to hear him speak at Drake University this fall. He is widely respected as a fair jurist who doesn’t legislate from the bench – meaning he’s a strict constructionalist. I don’t think he tried to hide that. I don’t recall anyone asking him… by the way are you a moderate? They could have looked at his court decisions. Stop whining Senator Reid.
The funny thing about Senator Reid wanting moderates, is that they won’t actually be moderate. Moderate is defined differently with Reid and company when you realize that his reality is stage left of the rest of the world.
So when you see the word “moderate” come out of Reid’s mouth read “progressive.” Oh, by the way, Senator Reid voted against Roberts’ nomination, so exactly how was he fooled?