What They're Saying: Judge John G. Roberts (Parts I, II, and III)

Republican National Committee ^ | July 19, 2005

[RWR8189]

What They're Saying: Judge John G. Roberts

"Another Member Of The 'Gang Of 14', Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., Told The Hartford Courant Last Thursday That Roberts Would Be One Of Three Picks He Thought Would Not Spark A Talk-A-Thon, Or A Filibuster."  (Jesse J. Holland, "Roberts Pick Draws Praise From Senate Republicans, A Few Democrats," The Associated Press, 7/19/05)

Wall Street Journal: "[M]r. Roberts May Be Difficult For The Democrats To Attack As Being An Extremist. Those Who Have Worked With Him Say He Is A Likeable, Gracious Judge Who Will Play Well To The Broader Public Audience During His Hearings." (John Harwood and Jess Bravin, "Bush Picks Appeals Judge John Roberts Jr. For Supreme Court," The Wall Street Journal, 7/19/05)

Wall Street Journal: "The Business Community Is Certain To Hail His Selection. ... In Addition, He Was Among The Finalists' Who Had Recent Experience In The Global Markets Of Today - A Perspective Corporate Leaders Say Is Sorely Missing On The Court."  (John Harwood and Jess Bravin, "Bush Picks Appeals Judge John Roberts Jr. For Supreme Court," The Wall Street Journal, 7/19/05)

MSNBC's Dan Abrams: "[John Roberts Has] Actually Been Supported By Many Prominent Democrats When He Was Up For The Federal Court Of Appeals. In Fact, Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmed Him By A 14-3 Voice Vote." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 7/19/05)

MSNBC'S David Gregory: "It Should Be Known That Roberts Is Known As A Pretty Serious Conservative Legal Scholar With A Good Judicial Temperament." (MSNBC's ""Live Coverage Of Supreme Court Pick,"" 7/19/05)

MSNBC's Brian Williams: "John Roberts Is An Upstanding Member Of The Federal Bar." (MSNBC's "Live Coverage Of Supreme Court Pick," 7/19/05)

• Williams: John Roberts "Has Been Able To Reach Across Those Kinds Of Ideological Lines." (MSNBC's ""Live Coverage Of Supreme Court Pick," 7/19/05)

 

Fox News' Shephard Smith: "If I Recall Correctly, [Roberts] Had A Rather Noncontroversial Confirmation Hearing. [He] Went Through The Process Rather Rapidly With A Little Bit Of Confirmation Difficulty From Democrats, But Nowhere Near As Much As Some Of The Other Presidential Nominees That Received The Filibuster Treatment." (Fox News' "The Fox Report," 7/19/05)

• Smith: "He Clerked For Then-Associate Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist Back In 1981 And 1982, So He Has A Very Good Pedigree There In Terms Of Experience, At Least In And Around The High Court." (Fox News' "The Fox Report," 7/19/05)

 

• Smith: "This Is Someone Major With Staunch Republican Credentials, And As Far As The President Is Concerned, It Gives Him The Ability To Stick To That Promise That He Made To Nominate A Conservative." (Fox News' "The Fox Report," 7/19/05)

 

Fox News' Major Garrett: "The President Said All Along That What He Wants Is A Strict Constructionist. Someone On The High Court Who Will Interpret The Constitution And Then Decide The Facts Of The Case Presented To Him Or Her Based On Not Only The Facts But On The Underlying Interpretation Of The Constitution." (Fox News' "The Fox Report," 7/19/05)

• Garrett: "This Is A More Conventional Pick In That Sense. Does It Necessarily Mean It Is Someone Who Will Cause A Confirmation Problem? I Don't Have A Sense On That Yet. The Democratic Reaction Will Be Crucial." (Fox News' "The Fox Report," 7/19/05)

 

• Garrett: "The Confirmation Process Went Relatively Quickly. It Only Took About Six Months From Nomination To Confirmation For John Roberts. Which Means He Has Not Only A Legal Track Record But A Senatorial Confirmation Track Record And It's To A Very Important Federal Appeals Court." (Fox News' "The Fox Report," 7/19/05)

 

• Garrett: "Democrats Often Say The Court Of Appeals For The DC Circuit Is The Second Most Powerful Court In The Land So It Will Be Very Hard For Senate Democrats To Say 'Well This Nominee Was Not Given Sufficient Scrutiny When He Was Before The Senate Before,' Because They Say They By Definition Say They Heavily Scrutinize Anyone Nominated For This Particular Court." (Fox News' "The Fox Report," 7/19/05)

 

CNN's Jeffrey Toobin: "[Roberts] Is A Very Smart Guy. He's Argued In Front Of The U.S. Supreme Court, Which Is Awfully Good Practice." (CNN's "Paula Zahn Live," 7/19/05)

• Toobin: "[Roberts] Is A Very Distinguished Lawyer. This Is The Kind Of Lawyer That People Have Been Talking About For 20 Years, About Being On The Supreme Court. He Is Someone Who Has A -- Who Has The Experience That Makes Him A Plausible Candidate." (CNN's "Paula Zahn Live," 7/19/05)

 

• Toobin: "When It Comes To Credentials, There Can't Be Any Argument That John Roberts Isn't Qualified." (CNN, "Paula Zahn Live," 7/19/05)

 

• Toobin: "Harry Reid Has To Bow To Reality. He Does Have Suitable Credentials." (CNN, 7/19/05)

MSNBC Analyst Jonathan Turley: John Roberts "Is Someone Who Is Extremely Smart. ... He Is A Very Talented Man. ... You Would Have To Give Him Very High Scores For Intelligence." (MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann," 7/19/05)

Gregory Garre, Former Colleague Of Roberts: "He Has A Friendly, Down-To-Earth Demeanor That Puts Others At Ease And Fosters Consensus." (Gina Holland, "Former Rehnquist Clerk Picked For Supreme Court Vacancy," The Associated Press, 7/19/05)

The Associated Press Called Roberts A "Likeable Lawyer." (Gina Holland, "Former Rehnquist Clerk Picked For Supreme Court Vacancy," The Associated Press, 7/19/05)

 What They're Saying II: More Praise Of Judge John G. Roberts

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR):  "We Know That Justice Scalia Got 98 Votes When He Went Through, And You Know, It Can Happen Again Maybe." (Fox News', "O'Reilly Factor," 7/19/05)

Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe: "[I] Admire Him. I Respect Him." (MSNBC, "Live Coverage," 7/19/05)

NBC's Brian Williams: "Lightning Fast Indirect. He Went Through Harvard In Three Years, A Family Man As We Heard The President. The Justice - To - Be Spoke - Said To Be Very Good On His Feet." (NBC's, "Roberts Nomination Coverage," 7/19/05)

NBC's Tim Russert: "The Questions About Ideology And Hot Button Issues Will Not Dominate The Hearings. By The Democrats I Speak To Who Were Fearing Someone Much More Conservative, Someone Without The Intellectual Or Capabilities As John Roberts Has Exemplified ..." (NBC's, "Roberts Nomination Coverage," 7/19/05)

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): "There's No Question That Judge Roberts Has Outstanding Legal Credentials And An Appropriate Legal Temperament And Demeanor." (Sen. Chuck Schumer, Press Conference, 7/19/05)

From Bill Clinton Chief Of Staff Leon Panetta: "I Suspect That This Is A Judge Who's Got A Pretty Good, Certain Had I An Intellectual Record. He Has A Good Reputation For Integrity In The Jobs He's Had. And I Guess I'll Let The Democrats ... Clearly, This Is Somebody Who Doesn't Bring, It Seems To Me, Any Right Or Left Tinge At This Point." (MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann," 7/19/05)

CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "It Looks Like This ... Is A Pretty Smart Political Move On The Part Of The President To Get A Justice Confirmed." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 9/17/05)

Fox News' Mort Kondracke: "I Think It's A Shrewd Pick And A Good Pick. He's Brilliant ... And Well Respected By The D.C. Bar. He's Not Written A Lot So There's Not A Lot Of Target He's Furnishing For The Democrats." (Fox News' "Hannity And Colmes," 7/19/05)

• Kondracke: "Allegedly Senator Schumer Was Unhappy About The Selection. I Think That's Because It's Very Hard To Make War Against This Guy." (Fox News' "Hannity And Colmes," 7/19/05)

 

• Kondracke: "I Don't Think It Will Get Anywhere Near To [A Filibuster]. This Is A Man Who Is Highly Respected In The D.C. Legal Establishment By Democrats As Well As Republicans. He's A Man Of Immense Good Humor, I'm Told." (Fox News' "Hannity And Colmes," 7/19/05)

 

• Kondracke:  "Look, I Think The Confirmation Is Next To Guaranteed."(Fox News' "Hannity And Colmes," 7/19/05)

 

Fox News' Fred Barnes: "I Think Absent Something Truly Unforeseen, He'll Be Confirmed And Then He Will Be Seated As A Judge On The First Monday In October When The Court Starts Again." (Fox News' "Hannity And Colmes," 7/19/05)

Fox News' Bill Kristol: "I Think This Was Courageous And Impressive. He Thought Of It. He Had A Balanced List, As Carl Cameron Suggested With Relevant Races, Ethnicities, And Enders On It. I Think He Stepped Back And Thought Who Really Will Be The Best Justice, The Most Important Thing He'll Do In Domestic Policy As President." (Fox News' "Hannity And Colmes," 7/19/05)

Kendall Coffey, Who Argued Bush V. Gore On Behalf Of Al Gore, Said John Roberts "Really Is Very Hard To Criticize." (MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann," 7/19/05)

MSNBC Analyst Jonathan Turley: "I Don't See Anything In His Background To Suggest That He's Anything But Consistent. He's A Very Nice Man. He's A Very Brilliant Attorney." (MSNBC, "Live Coverage," 7/19/05)  

What They're Saying III: More Praise Of Judge John G. Roberts

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL): "The Nominee Is Honest, Legally Skilled And Has A Good Temperament." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 7/19/05)

Former Sen. John Breaux (D-LA): "[I] Do Think That The President Did A Very Good Job. I Mean, Talking To 70 Senators Approximately, Republicans And Democrats, Bringing In Pat Leahy And Senator Harry Reid Now For Consultation I Think Was The Right Thing To Do."  (Fox News' "Hannity & Colmes," 7/19/05)

• Breaux (D-LA): "[I] Don't Have A Problem With A Conservative President, Which George Bush Is, Appointing A Conservative Nominee To The Supreme Court." (Fox News' "Hannity And Colmes," 7/19/05) 

 

Newsweek's Howard Fineman: "This Is A First-Class Jurist. He Is Going To Be Extremely Difficult To Dislodge. He Has Already Got A Big Bunch Of Momentum Behind Him In Town." (MSNBC's "Scarborough Country," 7/19/05)

• Fineman: "It Is A Bold Move, And I Was Somewhat Surprised At The Sort Of Muted Reactions Of Some Of The Moderates And Liberals Around Town In The First Couple Of Hours, Because The More I Look At John Roberts, The More I Realize That The President And Conservatives In This Country Have Almost Their Perfect Candidate." (MSNBC's "Scarborough Country," 7/19/05)

 

• Fineman: "He Is A Guy Who Has Broad Connections Around Town, Who Is Known Not Only Through Harvard Ties But Social Affairs With People Here. He Is A Comforting Figure In That Sense. It Was A Politically Brilliant Pick, Not For The Least Of Which Because The Guy Is From Buffalo, Which Means That Ultimately Tim Russert Will Be On His Side." (MSNBC's "Scarborough Country," 7/19/05)

 

• Fineman: "Because His Credentials Are So Good As A Jurist, Groups Like People For The American Way And Many Democrats Have Been Forced At Least Initially To Hold Back Because There's No Doubt That This Guy Is Not Some Sort Of Hot House Conservative With No Real World Experience." (MSNBC's "Scarborough Country," 7/19/05)

 

Former Attorney General Edwin Meese: "I Know Him Well. I Think The President Is To Be Commended For His Outstanding Appointment. An Outstanding Nomination."  (Fox News' "Hannity And Colmes," 7/19/05)

Time's Jay Carney: "[Roberts Is] A Civil Nominee And A Civil Candidate ..." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 7/19/05)

Former Presidential Advisor David Gergen: "He Was At Hogan & Hartson, A Gold Plated Firm In Washington." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 7/19/05)

• Gergen: "Judge Roberts, By Comparison, When He Was At Hogan & Hartson Was Regarded As One Of The Best Oral Advocates Before The Supreme Court Of The 1990s. He's Affable, He Argues Well And I Would Imagine ... He Would Make A Very Good Witness For Himself." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 7/19/05)

 

USC Law Professor And Democrat Consultant Susan Estrich: "[J]ohn Roberts Is A Very Smart Guy ... He Has Fine Credentials ..." (Fox News' "On The Record," 7/19/05)

• Estrich: "In John Roberts You Have Somebody Who Is A Real Developed Intellectual And By That I Mean Here Is A Guy Who For The Last 25 Years Has Been Articulating His Intellectual Views." (Fox News' "On The Record," 7/19/05)

 

Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe: "I Know John Roberts. I Think He's Brilliant ..." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 7/19/05)

• Tribe: "If I Were On The Court, I Would Love To Have Him As A Colleague ..." (CNN's "Larry King Live," 7/19/05)

 

Former White House Deputy Counsel David Leitch:  "[Roberts Has] Argued About 40 Cases Before The Supreme Court. I Think It Really Demonstrates A Wide Array Of Both Issues And Sides Of Issues That Are Presented." (PBS's "News Hour With Jim Lehrer," 7/1905)

• Leitch: "[Roberts Is A] Warm [And] Likeable Person." (PBS's "News Hour With Jim Lehrer," 7/19/05)
• Leitch: "[Roberts Is An] Outstanding Advocate." (PBS's "News Hour With Jim Lehrer," 7/19/05)

 

Bloomberg: "Roberts Is One Of The Country's Most Experienced Supreme Court Practitioners." ("John Roberts Chosen By Bush For U.S. Supreme Court," Bloomberg, 7/19/05)

The  New York Times David Brooks: "Home Run. I Go For The Baseball Metaphors. Fantastic Choice." (PBS' "Newshour," 7/19/05)

PBS' Gwen Ifill: "You Have Heard What All The Experts Have Said So Far Tonight. Most Of Them Are Saying John Roberts Seems Like A Pretty Nice Guy Who Shouldn't Expect A Real Difficult Confirmation Process." (PBS' "Newshour," 7/19/05)

National Journal's Stuart Taylor Jr.: "Everything I've Learned About Him Is That He's A Very Judicious Fellow Who Will Keep An Open Mind To Issues Until They're Presented To Him." (PBS' "Newshour," 7/19/05)

CNN's Jeffrey Toobin: "[Roberts Is] Better Than What You'd Expect. ... John Roberts Has Been Known As Just About The Best Lawyer In Washington. And That's Saying A Lot." (CNN's "News Night With Aaron Brown," 7/19/05)

• Toobin: "You Have To Give The President Credit For Naming Someone Who Has Intellectual Fire Power And Smarts And Competence That Is Absolutely Beyond Question." (CNN's "News Night With Aaron Brown," 7/19/05)

[LucyJo]

Chuckie marching off to the SCOTUS war he declared, and the president won the first battle without firing a shot. lol.

[EQAndyBuzz]

This is going to be a bloodbath unless they save it for Rheinquist.

Anyone want to take bets that the day Roberts is confirmed, Rheinquist retires?

[bimbo]

It's more fun to read the Democat responses when you add "Damn It!" to the end of each sentence.

I re-read it twice ... I can hear the Democrats and the Media Liberals whispering "Oh, Boy."

[sphinx]

These are probably honest first reactions, which is what happens when the pick is someone who hasn't been a target in the rumor mill for six months. The lefties haven't had their sights on him, haven't softened him up, and haven't gotten their attack lines down.

Had Judge Bork been a surprise pick, you probably could have gotten similar reactions. He was universally acknowledged as brilliant, one of the country's most eminent judges, and likely Supreme Court material. The Democrats had to work hard to set up their strawman attack.

So Bush wins round one by not telegraphing the punch and knocking the 'rats off their talking points. Unfortunately, they're going to have the August recess to regroup and pick their line of attack. Will they roll over for this one? I hope so, but I doubt the hard left wing of the party will let them. By September, we are likely to be hearing a lot of, "He's a nice guy but ...." with the generic moonbat gibberish thrown in willy-nilly.

[alnick]

I re-read it twice ... I can hear the Democrats and the Media Liberals whispering "Oh, Boy."

I heard a couple of clips of Paula Zahn last night, and her voice was full of doom and gloom.

[Mike Darancette]

Give it a month and most of these people will be bad mouthing Roberts.