The Democratic Party of Oregon today launched a statewide radio campaign calling on the US Senate to vigorously question Judge Roberts’ record in previous Republican administrations, and questioning the credibility of the Bush White House.  To date, the Bush Administration has refused to release critical documents about Judge Roberts’ political past.  

 Given the precedent the Administration's actions in Iraq and the failure to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina, the American people should not simply take George Bush's word that Roberts should ascend to Chief Justice.  All documents that do not impair national security should be released and Roberts must prove he is committed to defending the rights of all Americans.  

 “As Hurricane Katrina has painfully reminded us, America has a long way to go in addressing social and economic injustices. The worst thing the Senate could do in Katrina’s wake is to confirm a Chief Justice who is not committed to protecting the basic rights and freedoms of all Americans,” said DPO Chair Jim Edmunson. “The Senate must closely question Roberts on women’s rights, voting rights, employment discrimination, affirmative action and the right to privacy, among many other topics. We must be sure that Roberts’ lifetime appointment as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will not threaten our rights.”

Despite the White House stonewalling of Judge Roberts’ record, the limited records that have been made available are cause for deep concern for the legal rights of all Americans, including women, people of color and people with disabilities. Roberts’ record is replete with attempts to weaken civil rights:

·       Roberts supported attempts to weaken the protection against sex discrimination in Title IX. 

·       Roberts has tried to limit voting rights, specifically as Special Assistant to the Attorney General, he fought Congressional efforts to protect the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the most successful civil rights law ever passed.

·       As Solicitor General, Roberts opposed federal affirmative action plans.

·       Roberts has supported weakening the Education of the Handicapped Act.

 ·       Roberts’ record strongly suggests that he does not recognize the constitutional right to privacy and that he would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“Throughout his legal career, Judge Roberts has been an advocate for an ideological agenda that would take away constitutional and statutory rights enjoyed by all Americans,” said Edmunson. “The Senate must find out whether he will pursue that agenda if confirmed, or whether he will be a Chief Justice for all Americans.”

The radio campaign, which begins in conjunction with the critical Senate Judiciary Committee hearings today in Washington DC, is funded by grassroots dollars raised last month at the Democratic Party of Oregon’s statewide “Justice for All” Supreme Court House Party event.  The Democratic Party of Oregon is the only state Democratic Party in the country to be engaged in paid media on the Roberts nomination, as we continue this grassroots off-election-year campaign. 

The campaign also calls specifically upon Oregon Republican Senator Gordon Smith to demand the truth of the Bush Administration, instead of taking the White House’s word that US Senators have all the relevant documents necessary to make a decision on Roberts.

Radio ads will run in the Portland, Eugene, Medford and Pendleton markets.  To listen to the ad, visit: https://secure.dpo.org/jfa