The Spark

the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist

“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx

Alito Hearings:
A Cynical Game

Jan 16, 2006

After a week of hearings, the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee say they are powerless to stop the confirmation of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court–because they weren’t able to trip him up and get him to say exactly what he would do.

But everyone knows where Alito stands. He has made it clear in all of his decisions, speeches and papers. He wants to repeal the right of women to an abortion; he has consistently ruled in favor of corporations and the government against working people in discrimination suits. For Judge Alito, women and working people have few rights or none when facing the government or mammoth corporations.

If the Democrats and “moderate” Republicans wanted to, they could easily block the confirmation through a filibuster.

If they did that, they’d be acting with the clear majority of the public, who in poll after poll have demonstrated their support for a woman’s right to an abortion, as well as the rights of working people.

The fact that they don’t shows that the Democrats and “moderate” Republicans are just playing a cynical game. They want to say they’re for a woman’s right to choose. But in reality, they’re just as much against women’s rights as the most reactionary Republicans are.

They’re just more slimy about it.