Samuel Alito

George W. Bush, when all is said and done, has nominated a man, Judge Samuel Alito, to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court.

Alito, an "ultra-conservative", is famous for holding that the Pennsylvania legislature was within its rights to make a law that said a woman must inform her husband in order to have an abortion:

"[t]he Pennsylvania legislature could have rationally believed that some married women are initially inclined to obtain an abortion without their husbands' knowledge because of perceived problems — such as economic constraints, future plans, or the husbands' previously expressed opposition — that may be obviated by discussion prior to the abortion."

I could say many things about Bush's hypocrisy, his caving to the religious right, and the truly odious legal reasoning that would make it illegal for a woman to have an abortion unless she "talks" to her husband. There will be time for that later. For now, all I can say is what an insult to Sandra Day O'Connor, and to the women of the United States as a whole.

This is about something more than politics. This is about a lack of dignity and respect.

On the day we honor Ms. Rosa Parks, civil rights pioneer and the first woman to lie in state in the Capital, President Bush has nominated, to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, a man who would dedicate himself to undoing the balance Justice O'Connor struck, her life's work on the court. George Bush would leave Justice Ginsberg as the lone woman on the Court.

George W. Bush has no sense of shame. There is nothing beneath him.

What a slap in the face to the honor and dignity of both of these women, and to every woman today. A man has been put forward take Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the Court. George W. Bush, on this day we honor Rosa Parks, just told America's women to walk to the back of the bus.

In my opinion, the proper response, in addition to whatever formal and political opposition will be mounted to this nomination, must be protest of some sort. The day to protest the Alito nomination is today, and tommorrow, and the day after that. Protests led by women and joined by men. This isn't a "wait and see"..."sad resignation" kind of moment. Alito is young enough to be a Supreme Court Justice well into our children's middle age.

It's time for us to reach out and link arms. It's time for us to honor our mothers and sisters and daughters. It's time for all of us to say: No, not today, George. Enough is enough.

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