Leahy to Vote Against Thomas in Panel
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), citing “too many doubts” about Clarence Thomas’ vision of the Constitution, on Tuesday became the first senator on the 14-member Judiciary Committee to announce that he will vote against President Bush’s Supreme Court nominee.
Leahy stated his position on the floor of the Senate just after Republican Sens. Slade Gorton of Washington and Nancy Landon Kassebaum of Kansas announced their support for Thomas.
Thomas’ confirmation by the full Senate seemed virtually assured after four days of hearings in which the nominee was not nailed down on constitutional issues.
Leahy complained that Thomas refused to state his position on Roe vs. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. However, Gorton maintained that Supreme Court confirmation hearings in the pitched political environment of today force nominees to steer clear of direct answers on such volatile issues.
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