Posted on 09/21/2005 9:44:32 PM PDT by alessandrofiaschi
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 - President Bush is focused on Hispanics, African-Americans and women to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and he may announce his choice for her seat on the Supreme Court as early as the court's opening days in October, Republican strategists said on Wednesday.
Republicans noted that it was still early in the process and that the strategists were putting forth a diverse selection of potential nominees in part to portray the White House as interested in people from politically important constituencies.
The timing of the announcement, strategists said, could allow a nominee to be confirmed as early as Thanksgiving and reflected the president's stated desire to move quickly. The strategists spoke on condition of anonymity because the president has ordered his aides and allies not to talk about internal deliberations over his choice for the court.
On Wednesday morning, the White House quickly rejected a suggestion by Senator Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, that Mr. Bush delay the nomination and ask Justice O'Connor to stay on through the court's next term, which ends next June. Mr. Specter made the suggestion in a meeting with Mr. Bush and Senate leaders at the White House.
"The president respects Senator Specter and his opinions," Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, told reporters after the meeting. Nonetheless, Mr. McClellan said, "Justice O'Connor has expressed her desire to leave the court."
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(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Why does your skin color or your gender affect how well you can read and interpret the constitution?
A simple but thoughtful question.
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