RNC Response To John Kerry’s Call For A Filibuster Of Judge Alito’s Nomination To The SCOTUS

Republican National Committee ^ | January 26, 2006

[RWR8189]

Contact: Press Office
202-863-8614

 

“To even suggest a filibuster against a nominee as qualified as Judge Alito reflects a philosophy so out of touch that it’s bordering on reckless. The judicial confirmation process, particularly one for the nation’s highest court, should be insulated from such thoughtless bomb throwing in an effort to remain relevant. One can't help but wonder if the consummate candidate was for Judge Alito, before he was against him.”

-Tracey Schmitt, RNC Press Secretary

 

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA) CALLS IN
ALITO FILIBUSTER FROM SWITZERLAND

“Sen. John Kerry Has Decided To Support A Filibuster To Block The Nomination Of Judge Samuel Alito To The Supreme Court, CNN's Congressional Correspondent Ed Henry Reported Thursday. Kerry, In Davos, Switzerland, To Attend The World Economic Forum, Was Marshaling Support In Phone Calls During The Day, Henry Said.” (“Sen. Kerry Calls For Filibuster Of Alito,” CNN.com, 1/26/06)

Recent GQ Article Highlighted Dems’ Frustration With Sen. John Kerry (D-MA):

“[A]s Another Frustrated Senior Democratic Strategist Puts It, ‘Congressional Democrats Are Spending An Awful Lot Of Time Trying To Figure Out How To Maneuver Around [Kerry]. They Want Some New Ground. They Want The Basis For A New Conversation. And Kerry’s Very Much Stuck Reverse. It Causes A Lot Of Resentment.’” (Michael Crowley, “John Kerry Has Fallen…And Keeps Getting Up,” GQ Website, Http://Men.Style.Com/Gq/Features/Landing?Id=Content_4129, Accessed 1/18/06)

• “Normally, He Would Be The Titular Head Of The Opposition, But He’s Not, So We Have This Kind Of Ten-Headed Monster That’s Out There,” Says Mike McCurry, A Former Clinton Press Secretary And Senior Adviser To Kerry In The Late Days Of His Campaign. McCurry, Who Remains Fond Of Kerry, Says Of Him (And Of The Various Other Democrats Who Seem To Be Already Running For President): “People Have To Stop Freelancing. The Reason People Think Democrats Have Nothing To Say Is That We Have Fifty People Saying Fifty Different Things.” (Michael Crowley, “John Kerry Has Fallen…And Keeps Getting Up,” GQ Website, Http://Men.Style.Com/Gq/Features/Landing?Id=Content_4129, Accessed 1/18/06)

Democrat Senators Who Have Ruled Out A Filibuster After Judge Samuel A. Alito’s Confirmation Hearing:

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV): “He Struck Me As A Man Of His Word, And I Intend To Vote For Him.” (Sen. Robert Byrd, Congressional Record, 1/26/06)

• Byrd: “There Is Not Going To Be Any Filibuster Against Alito.” (Sen. Robert Byrd, Congressional Record, 12/12/05, p. S13430)

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD): “Said … That He Will Vote For Supreme Court Nominee Samuel Alito, Making Him The Second Democrat To Support The Judge.” (Mary Clare Jalonick, “Democratic Senator Tim Johnson Will Vote For Alito,” The Associated Press, 1/26/05)

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA): “Because We Have Such A Full Plate Of Pressing Issues Before Congress, A Filibuster At This Time Would Be, In My View, Very Counterproductive. It Is Imperative That We Remain Focused On Creating The Tools New Orleans, Louisiana And The Gulf Coast Will Need To Rebuild. … We Simply Cannot Afford To Bring The Senate To A Halt At A Time When We Need Its Action The Most.” (Sen. Mary Landrieu, Press Release, 1/25/06)

• Landrieu: “If Called To Vote For Cloture On Judge Alito’s Nomination, I Will Vote Yes. I Will Continue To Consult With Constituents, Groups, Organizations And Colleagues To Decide On My Final Vote. I Do Think It Is Important That We Have An Up Or Down Vote.” (Sen. Mary Landrieu, Press Release, 1/25/06)

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR): “Another Of The [Gang Of 14], Democrat Sen. Mark Pryor Of Arkansas, Said He Does Not See Extraordinary Circumstances. ‘He Hasn’t Heard That There’s Going To Be [A Filibuster],’ Pryor Spokeswoman Lisa Ackerman Said. ‘I Don’t Think There’s Interest In One.’” (Anne C. Mulkern, “Alito Sails Toward OK,” The Denver Post, 1/13/06)

Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO): “I Do Not Intend To Join In Any Filibuster Against A Vote On Judge Alito.” (Anne Imse, “Salazar: Thomas An ‘Abomination,’” Rocky Mountain News [Denver, CO], 1/26/06)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): “I Do Not See The Likelihood Of A Filibuster To Be Very Candid With You. I Don’t See Those Kinds Of Egregious Things Emerging That Would Justify A Filibuster. I Think When It Comes To Filibustering Supreme Court Appointment, You Really Have To Have Something Out There, Whether It’s Gross Moral Turptitude Or Something That Comes To The Surface. Now This Is A Man That I Might Disagree With. That Doesn’t Mean He Shouldn’t Be On The Court.” (CBS’s “Face The Nation,” 1/15/06)

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE): “In Addition To Mrs. Feinstein, Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska Democrat, Has Said He Sees No Justification For A Filibuster.” (Charles Hurt, “Key Democrat Disavows Block Of Alito Vote,” The Washington Times, 1/16/06)

 

[gov_bean_ counter]

The Dems better hope that neither Buzzy nor Stevens fall out before the midterms. The next nominee will be an African-American female (insert name here). It will be hell to pay for them when they filibuster her.

To filibuster Alito would have been a lose/lose. To filibuster some one like Janice Rogers Brown could be a lose/lose/lose/lose/lose/lose...

[skinkinthegrass]

You Really Have To Have Something Out There, Whether It’s Gross Moral Turptitude Or Something That Comes To The Surface.

...too bad, the voters of MA, don't apply the " same morals test" to "Swimmer" Kennedy (or his Clan), as he "slurs" his complaints about Alito/Roberts

[SkyPilot]

Mass a two sh.... suffers from an over population of three groups:

1. Fools in academia

2. Union slaves

3. State employees

Add them together and you have enough leftists that would gladly vote for Stalin if he was running.

[Doogle]

[frankjr]

I am guessing Reid did not tell Kerry that he [Reid] already agreed with Frist that there would be no filibuster knowing Kerry was going to do this thereby Frankenkerry to look like a complete idiot. Even the Dems know Kerry is a loser.

[Natural Law]

Typical Kerry BS. He hasn't got the balls to attempt a filibuster on his own, but will support one of someone else steps forward.

[mozarky2]

Sense of humor, indeed! Ms. Schmitt turns her keyboard into a surgical instrument and starts carving on Kerry! Almost like performing an autopsy on a living person! (if, in fact Kerry IS actually LIVING-LOL)!

[MHGinTN]

Kerry is, as per his usual chickendug self, making his blusters from Davos Switzerland! He's so important in this 'battle' that he's blustering from 'off shore'! Bwahahaha, what a maroon, the consummate liberal dolt.

[oldironsides]

It is time to bombard the Boston Catholic chancery with letters or email about this pretender. Kerry is pro abortion and that is at odds with church teaching. We should tell them to listen to the fop speaking before the senate on the Alito nomination. The people of Massachusetts deserve better than Kerry and Kennedy

[silas_d]

I can smell their desparation - just heard that someone is selling the internet name abortiontravel.com ... gues they see the writing on the wall.

[Laverne]

I wish they had made some statement regarding a global test (remembr from the debate)...especially since Kerry called for this filibuster from Switzerland!!!

[jackv]

hahahahaha!!!

[Howlin]

Dammit. The morons are Still Capitalizing Every Word. Not reading it. RNC wasted their time with whatever msg they intended.

Precisely. As soon as it comes, I delete it.

It's ignorant looking and damn embarassing.

[maggief]

U.S. Democratic Senator from Boston, John Kerry, left, and his wife Teresa Heinz-Kerry attend a plenary entitled 'Muslim Societies in the Modern World' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday Jan. 26, 2006. The second day of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting promised a blend of celebrity and brass tacks talk of the issues facing the global community, ranging from security against terror to advancing human rights and the struggle against poverty and disease. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

[upchuck]

Please donate to the RNC. They, in turn, will keep their cut and use at least some of your money to insure the RINOS in the House and Senate get reelected. Just what you want, right?

[hershey]

Kerry's in Davos, telling Democrats to filibuster. What an idiot. 'Ten headed monster' is right.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

For those who "forgot" what Hanoi Kerry
did in the past read on and learn the truth.

Hanoi Kerry was still a USNR officer while he:
gave false hearsay testimony to Congress
negotiated with the enemy
helped the US lose a war
abetted in the deaths of millions
created a hostile environment for all servicemen

http://ice.he.net/~freepnet/kerry/index.php?topic=Documents

Call to action!
Please help get this bill passed
AND signed into law
BEFORE the '06 elections!

Stolen Valor Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)
HR 3352 IH
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:h.r.3352:

Call or write your media
http://congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

Write every Senator and Representative.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt?command=congdir

Spread the word far and wide.

This is a no brainer, conservatives control Congress
and the White House

---

Stolen Valor Act of 2005 (Introduced in House)
HR 3352 IH

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3352

To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to protections for the Medal of Honor, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 19, 2005

Mr. SALAZAR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to protections for the Medal of Honor, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Stolen Valor Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--

(1) fraudulent claims surrounding receipt of the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished-Service Cross, the Air Force Cross, the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, or any other medal or decoration awarded by Congress or the armed forces damage the reputation and meaning of these medals;

(2) Federal law enforcement officers are currently limited in their ability to prosecute fraudulent claims of receipt of military medals; and

(3) changes to the current statute are necessary to allow law enforcement personnel to protect the reputation and meaning of these medals.

SEC. 3. MILITARY MEDAL PROTECTIONS.

Section 704 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in subsection (a)--

(A) by inserting `purchases, attempts to purchase, solicits for purchase, mails, ships, imports, exports, produces blank certificates of receipt,' after `wears'; and

(B) by inserting `attempts to sell, advertises for sale, trades, barters or exchanges for anything of value' after `sells';

(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting `or (b)' after `subsection (a)'

(3) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);

(4) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:

`(b) False Claims About Receipt of Military Medals- Whoever falsely represents himself or herself, verbally or in writing, to have been awarded any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.'; and

(5) by adding at the end the following:

`(d) Other Medals- If a decoration or medal involved in an offense under subsection (a) or (b) is a Distinguished Service Cross awarded under Section 3742 of title 10, an Air Force Cross awarded under section 8742 of section 10, a Navy cross awarded under section 6242 of title 10, a silver star awarded under section 3746, 6244, or 8746 of title 10, or a Purple Heart awarded under section 1129 of title 10, or any replacement or duplicate medal as authorized by statute, in lieu of the punishment provided in that subsection, the offender shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.'.

---

"From Ray Funderburk, MOPH

The greatest threat to the sanctity and significance of the Purple Heart comes from the medal's easy availability. Anyone can buy one at flea markets, pawnshops or on the Internet, where Web sites offer the decoration, no questions asked, for as little as $35. An accompanying certificate on onion skin parchment and personalized with your name and any rank you choose costs about $25.

Such commerce in the symbols of American courage and sacrifice would be outlawed by a measure spearheaded last July by Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.

His "Stolen Valor Act" would make it a federal crime to falsely wear the Purple Heart and other top military decorations, or to even list them on a resume if they were not officially earned.

But the proposed bill now sits in the House Judiciary Committee, and its fate remains unclear.
"We're waiting for the committee to act," said Salazar

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1560750/posts?page=2#2

---

Any Republican or Democrat politicians who don't get this bill passed is
as guilty as the phonies that this bill targets.

The Swift Boat Vets already proved, beyond a doubt,
that hanoi kerry's 1st Purple Heart is fraudulent.

A US Attorney General can get ALL of hanoi kerry's
records and once and for all prove that the
Swift Boat Vets were accurate and true.

All that has to be done is to get this bill passed and signed into law now, before the '06 election.

Since hanoi kerry will be under indictment he'll
have to sit out the '06 election for his illegal seat
in the US Senate.

AND the best part is that it is a Democrat sponsored
bill that will his downfall.

COSPONSORS(60), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]: (Sort: by date)

Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 7/27/2005
Rep Baird, Brian [WA-3] - 7/28/2005
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 7/27/2005
Rep Beauprez, Bob [CO-7] - 9/6/2005
Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] - 7/27/2005
Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] - 7/27/2005
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 7/27/2005
Rep Boyd, Allen [FL-2] - 7/27/2005
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 9/6/2005
Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] - 7/27/2005
Rep Case, Ed [HI-2] - 7/27/2005
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] - 7/27/2005
Rep Cooper, Jim [TN-5] - 7/27/2005
Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 7/28/2005
Rep Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [AL-5] - 7/27/2005
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] - 7/27/2005
Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] - 7/26/2005
Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4] - 7/27/2005
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 7/26/2005
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 7/29/2005
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 7/28/2005
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 7/26/2005
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 7/28/2005
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 7/26/2005
Rep Herseth, Stephanie [SD] - 7/27/2005
Rep Hinojosa, Ruben [TX-15] - 7/28/2005
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 7/27/2005
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 7/28/2005
Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] - 7/27/2005
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 7/28/2005
Rep Lewis, Ron [KY-2] - 7/28/2005
Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-3] - 11/2/2005
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] - 7/26/2005
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 9/7/2005
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 9/14/2005
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 7/26/2005
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 7/27/2005
Rep Menendez, Robert [NJ-13] - 10/6/2005
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 7/27/2005
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 7/27/2005
Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 10/17/2005
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 7/27/2005
Rep Northup, Anne M. [KY-3] - 9/15/2005
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] - 7/28/2005
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 7/27/2005
Rep Pomeroy, Earl [ND] - 7/27/2005
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] - 7/27/2005
Rep Rogers, Harold [KY-5] - 9/7/2005
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 7/27/2005
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 7/26/2005
Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-29] - 7/27/2005
Rep Serrano, Jose E. [NY-16] - 7/29/2005
Rep Strickland, Ted [OH-6] - 9/27/2005
Rep Tancredo, Thomas G. [CO-6] - 9/6/2005
Rep Tanner, John S. [TN-8] - 7/27/2005
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] - 7/27/2005
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 7/27/2005
Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] - 7/22/2005
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 7/28/2005
Rep Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] - 9/20/2005

There is no valid reason why this bill can't pass both Houses of Congress
and be signed by President Bush
BEFORE the '06 elections.

http://johnkerryads.websiteanimal.com/

http://www.frontsteps.com/movies/john_kerrys_bad_rap/

Karl Rove knew, Nov. 7, 2004 , that hanoi kerry would try to run in '08
and knew Swift Boat Vet's would be called upon,
again, to serve our country.

Rove Credits Swiftvets With 'Energizing' Bush Vote (Thank You Karl Rove!)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1345603/posts

[upchuck]

My email message to RNCommunications@GOP.com:

Hi,

I Have A Great Idea For You. Why Don't You Capitalize Every Word In Your Press Releases? It Certainly Would Make Them Appear Professional. Haven't You Noticed That All "Professional" Correspondence Uses This Eye-Catching Method?

Another Thing You Can Do Is Make Sure All The Words In The Release Are Bolded. This Will Insure Your Message Gets The Attention It Deserves.

All For Now. Keep Up The Good Work.

Upchuck
Akien, SC

[Albion Wilde]

Kerry is, as per his usual chickendug self, making his blusters from Davos Switzerland!

He just wants to advertise the fact that he, John Kerry, is at the World Economic Forum. (Did I mention he served in Vietnam?)