Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Campaigning for Alito?
I just received this press release from Progress for America, a group dedicated to the notion that President Bush should be allowed to choose his judicial appointments without obstructionism:
***
Judge Alito 2006: "A Resolution Worth Keeping"
29 Alito Supporters Embark on 3 Day, 18 State Barnstorming Tour
WASHINGTON - Progress for America (PFA) today announced an 18-state barnstorm by 29 of Judge Samuel Alito's clerks, personal friends, mentors and former colleagues in advance of the January 9th Senate Judiciary Committee hearings (http://www.judgealito.com/travel/).
Alito's supporters will travel around the country calling for fair and swift hearings and an up or down vote to confirm Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. While participating in grassroots events and earned media activities, they will specifically emphasize his extensive qualifications and character, and directly address unfair attacks and mischaracterizations from his critics.
"Judge Alito has the judicial temperament, intellect and personal integrity to be a superb Supreme Court Justice. Coming from a wide array of backgrounds and ideologies, who better to deliver this message than the people that know him best - his former clerks, personal friends and colleagues?" said Christian Myers, Executive Director for Progress for America.
"By opposing the Alito nomination, we liberals run the real danger of shooting ourselves in our own left foot," said Susan Sullivan, former Alito clerk (1990-1991) and member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood.
PFA also unveiled a new "travel diary" section on their website that will include an interactive map of the United States, summaries of all state travel and commentary from the Alito clerks as well as the PFA state field teams. To view the travel diary, please visit: www.judgealito.com/travel.
The "Resolution Worth Keeping" Alito Confirmation Tour will include the following:
1. Arkansas, January 3rd: David Moore and Jack White - Moore served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2000-2001 and White served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2003-2004.
2. Colorado, January 5th: David McPhie and Alberto Rivas - McPhie served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2000-2001 when the Third Circuit considered Groody. Rivas served with Judge Alito in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey in the 1980's.
3. Florida, January 3rd: John Barkett and Jeffrey Wasserstein - Barkett, who serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami Law School, attended Yale Law School with Judge Alito. Wasserstein served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1996-1997.
4. Iowa, January 3rd: Geoffrey Michael and Christopher Paolella - Michael served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2000-2001 and Paolella served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1999-2000.
5. Louisiana, January 4th: Jay Jorgensen and Jack White - Jorgensen served as a law clerk for the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1997-1998. White served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2003-2004.
6. Michigan, January 5th: David Grais and Chris Eriksen - Grais, who is a partner with the law firm of Dewey Ballantine LLP in New York, has known Judge Alito since they were college roommates at Princeton. Eriksen served as one of Judge Alito's interns, as well as an intern to Judge Garth of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and as a law clerk to Judge Cowen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
7. Montana, January 5th: Bill Agress and John Tortorella - Agress has known Judge Alito for more than 40 years, since they were high school classmates and debate partners in 1965. Tortorella served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1999-2000.
8. Nebraska: January 5th : Hannah and John Smith - Hannah and John Smith served as law clerks for Judge Alito in 2001-2002. Hannah Smith also served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
9. Nevada, January 3rd: Susan Sullivan and Michael Lee. Sullivan, who is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1990-1991 when the Third Circuit considered Casey. Lee, who is general counsel to the Governor of Utah, served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1998-1999.
10. New Hampshire, January 5th : David Lorretto and Rick Beckner - Lorretto served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2002-2003 and Beckner served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1994-1995.
11. North Dakota, January 4th: Bill Agress and Chris Eriksen - Agress has known Judge Alito for more than 40 years, since they were high school classmates and debate partners in 1965. Eriksen served as one of Judge Alito's interns, as well as an intern to Judge Garth of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and as a law clerk to Judge Cowen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
12. Ohio, January 5th: Jay Jorgensen and Carter Phillips - Jorgensen served as a law clerk for the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1997-1998. Phillips, who has argued 45 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, previously served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Warren Burger and as Assistant to the Solicitor General. Mr. Phillips has known Judge Alito since they served together in the Office of the Solicitor General more than 20 years ago.
13. Oregon, January 4th: Susan Sullivan and Michael Lee. Sullivan, who is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1990-1991 when the Third Circuit considered Casey. Lee, who is general counsel to the Governor of Utah, served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1998-1999.
14. Pennsylvania, January 5th: Robert Del Tufo, Keith Levenberg and Matthew Schwartz - Del Tufo is a former Democratic Attorney General of New Jersey and former U.S. Attorney in New Jersey where Judge Alito worked for him almost 30 years ago. Levenberg served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2002-2003. Schwartz served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2003-2004.
15. Rhode Island, January 5th: Mark Dwyer and Thomas Gentile - Dwyer, who is Chief of Appeals and Counsel to the District Attorney in New York City, has known Judge Alito for more than 30 years, since they were college debate teammates and roommates at both Princeton and Yale Law School. Gentile served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1998-1999.
16. South Dakota, January 4th: Hannah and John Smith - Hannah and John Smith served as law clerks for Judge Alito in 2001-2002. Hannah Smith also served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
17. Virginia, January 4th: Christopher Paolella and Gary Rubman - Paolella served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1999-2000 and Rubman served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2000-2001.
18. West Virginia, January 4th: Paul Gluckow and Keith Levenberg - Gluckow served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1995-1996 when the Third Circuit considered Sheridan. Levenberg served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2002-2003.
***
Wow. I expected a typical PR campaign to combat the flood of misinformation and spin that the Left will unleash on this nominee, but this organized effort is unprecedentedble and, I dare say, unprecidented for a judicial nominee. If anyone attends one of these rallies, I would love to read a report on your impressions.
***
Judge Alito 2006: "A Resolution Worth Keeping"
29 Alito Supporters Embark on 3 Day, 18 State Barnstorming Tour
WASHINGTON - Progress for America (PFA) today announced an 18-state barnstorm by 29 of Judge Samuel Alito's clerks, personal friends, mentors and former colleagues in advance of the January 9th Senate Judiciary Committee hearings (http://www.judgealito.com/travel/).
Alito's supporters will travel around the country calling for fair and swift hearings and an up or down vote to confirm Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. While participating in grassroots events and earned media activities, they will specifically emphasize his extensive qualifications and character, and directly address unfair attacks and mischaracterizations from his critics.
"Judge Alito has the judicial temperament, intellect and personal integrity to be a superb Supreme Court Justice. Coming from a wide array of backgrounds and ideologies, who better to deliver this message than the people that know him best - his former clerks, personal friends and colleagues?" said Christian Myers, Executive Director for Progress for America.
"By opposing the Alito nomination, we liberals run the real danger of shooting ourselves in our own left foot," said Susan Sullivan, former Alito clerk (1990-1991) and member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood.
PFA also unveiled a new "travel diary" section on their website that will include an interactive map of the United States, summaries of all state travel and commentary from the Alito clerks as well as the PFA state field teams. To view the travel diary, please visit: www.judgealito.com/travel.
The "Resolution Worth Keeping" Alito Confirmation Tour will include the following:
1. Arkansas, January 3rd: David Moore and Jack White - Moore served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2000-2001 and White served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2003-2004.
2. Colorado, January 5th: David McPhie and Alberto Rivas - McPhie served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2000-2001 when the Third Circuit considered Groody. Rivas served with Judge Alito in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey in the 1980's.
3. Florida, January 3rd: John Barkett and Jeffrey Wasserstein - Barkett, who serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami Law School, attended Yale Law School with Judge Alito. Wasserstein served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1996-1997.
4. Iowa, January 3rd: Geoffrey Michael and Christopher Paolella - Michael served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2000-2001 and Paolella served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1999-2000.
5. Louisiana, January 4th: Jay Jorgensen and Jack White - Jorgensen served as a law clerk for the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1997-1998. White served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2003-2004.
6. Michigan, January 5th: David Grais and Chris Eriksen - Grais, who is a partner with the law firm of Dewey Ballantine LLP in New York, has known Judge Alito since they were college roommates at Princeton. Eriksen served as one of Judge Alito's interns, as well as an intern to Judge Garth of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and as a law clerk to Judge Cowen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
7. Montana, January 5th: Bill Agress and John Tortorella - Agress has known Judge Alito for more than 40 years, since they were high school classmates and debate partners in 1965. Tortorella served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1999-2000.
8. Nebraska: January 5th : Hannah and John Smith - Hannah and John Smith served as law clerks for Judge Alito in 2001-2002. Hannah Smith also served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
9. Nevada, January 3rd: Susan Sullivan and Michael Lee. Sullivan, who is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1990-1991 when the Third Circuit considered Casey. Lee, who is general counsel to the Governor of Utah, served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1998-1999.
10. New Hampshire, January 5th : David Lorretto and Rick Beckner - Lorretto served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2002-2003 and Beckner served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1994-1995.
11. North Dakota, January 4th: Bill Agress and Chris Eriksen - Agress has known Judge Alito for more than 40 years, since they were high school classmates and debate partners in 1965. Eriksen served as one of Judge Alito's interns, as well as an intern to Judge Garth of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and as a law clerk to Judge Cowen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
12. Ohio, January 5th: Jay Jorgensen and Carter Phillips - Jorgensen served as a law clerk for the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1997-1998. Phillips, who has argued 45 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, previously served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Warren Burger and as Assistant to the Solicitor General. Mr. Phillips has known Judge Alito since they served together in the Office of the Solicitor General more than 20 years ago.
13. Oregon, January 4th: Susan Sullivan and Michael Lee. Sullivan, who is a member of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood, served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1990-1991 when the Third Circuit considered Casey. Lee, who is general counsel to the Governor of Utah, served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1998-1999.
14. Pennsylvania, January 5th: Robert Del Tufo, Keith Levenberg and Matthew Schwartz - Del Tufo is a former Democratic Attorney General of New Jersey and former U.S. Attorney in New Jersey where Judge Alito worked for him almost 30 years ago. Levenberg served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2002-2003. Schwartz served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2003-2004.
15. Rhode Island, January 5th: Mark Dwyer and Thomas Gentile - Dwyer, who is Chief of Appeals and Counsel to the District Attorney in New York City, has known Judge Alito for more than 30 years, since they were college debate teammates and roommates at both Princeton and Yale Law School. Gentile served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1998-1999.
16. South Dakota, January 4th: Hannah and John Smith - Hannah and John Smith served as law clerks for Judge Alito in 2001-2002. Hannah Smith also served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
17. Virginia, January 4th: Christopher Paolella and Gary Rubman - Paolella served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1999-2000 and Rubman served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2000-2001.
18. West Virginia, January 4th: Paul Gluckow and Keith Levenberg - Gluckow served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 1995-1996 when the Third Circuit considered Sheridan. Levenberg served as a law clerk for Judge Alito in 2002-2003.
***
Wow. I expected a typical PR campaign to combat the flood of misinformation and spin that the Left will unleash on this nominee, but this organized effort is unprecedentedble and, I dare say, unprecidented for a judicial nominee. If anyone attends one of these rallies, I would love to read a report on your impressions.
Permalink posted by Rob Huddleston @ 10:29 AM 
