I watched the hearings (introductions) on Monday. Almost all of the Republicans said basically the same thing to John Roberts, which boiled down to: "don't say anything." They said that Ruth Bader Ginsburg hadn't answered questions, so neither should he. Forget the fact that this isn't exactly true (she answered a lot of questions, and there were many others (probably inappropriate, but don't quote me on that) that she didn't answer.
The Democrats primarily implored Roberts to remember that he is the last line of defense for many Americans, and that his rulings will affect over 200 million people for generations to come. They said that this hearing is the last opportunity to discover if he will be a fair judge, though conservative, and if his rulings will protect the rights of Americans or not.
Here's a good link to daily updates on the hearings and lots of information about John Roberts and the whole process:
"Senator Hatch's opening statement cited Ruth Bader Ginsburg's testimony before the same committee as a model for Roberts to emulate. Claiming she was reluctant to answer the committee's questions, Hatch echoed many Republicans by urging John Roberts to remain tight lipped. But in fact, Ginsburg was an open nominee that we wish Roberts would emulate.
As for Sen. Hatch, he's changed his tune since 1997, when he said that senators must "be extensive in its questioning of nominees' jurisprudential views." Said Hatch, "[T]he Senate can and should do what it can to ascertain the jurisprudential views a nominee will bring to the bench in order to prevent the confirmation of those who are likely to judicial activists."
We agree. Read more about secrecy, the Bush administration and John Roberts."
Read more at the above link.
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