Reid: Justice Roberts Lied To Us

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took a moment Friday to lament Supreme Court Chief Justice John Robert's tenure on the court so far, which in Reid's opinion has been far more conservative than expected. "He didn't tell us the truth," Reid's said, discussing Robert's confirmation back in 2005. From Politico:

"Roberts didn't tell us the truth. At least Alito told us who he was," Reid said, referring to Samuel Alito, the second Supreme Court justice nominated by President George W. Bush. "But we're stuck with those two young men, and we'll try to change by having some moderates in the federal courts system as time goes on -- I think that will happen."

Reid's comments reflect Democratic concerns that Roberts presented himself as a neutral arbiter of the law but has wielded a relentlessly conservative agenda. Republicans reject the attacks, saying Roberts has been a fair judge and has been consistent in his opinions.

Reid explained that, in his opinion, Roberts didn't give the Senate enough information during his confirmation hearing. From McClatchy:

Reid said three and a half years ago that Roberts had left "too many unanswered questions," and was concerned about his views on civil rights, immigration and other matters. Roberts was confirmed by a 78 to 22 vote.

Comments

[antifluff]

This article ignores the most important question..­..was he qualified? Have we become a country that discr im inates against people with different beliefs? If canidates can be disqualified for believing different than those in congress, no one will be eligible, because there will always be differences. Harry should be asha med of criticizing a qualified person, simply because they have different beliefs.

[Merg]

Harry Reid is one weasily, slimely S.O.B. How is it that Reid can complain that Roberts did not provide enough answers if SPINELESS TWITS like Reid failed to ask the question necessary or withhold their vote until they got a satisfactory answer. Reid sold this country down the river and he was not the only Dem or alone is his incompetence or his collusion.

[BMSstudy]

What were the lies versus what was not answered?

[connorin]

HA! Like Harry is known for his honesty!!!!!

BTW, I don't think the R's had 78-22 edge in the senate at the time, so he must have gotten some D votes

[Yarrr]

A right-wing idealogue is a liar?? No, I won't have it! I'm shocked, shocked I tell you.

[polyticks]

Oh please, Harry, YOU VOTED FOR ALIOTO when plenty of Democrats adamantly voted no on his nomination. So YOU gave us the majority we have right now, thanks. Some of us pay attention across the years....

[markinaz]

Well, duh. He's a conservative. Lying is part of the game. To them, the end will ALWAYS justify the means.

[antifluff]

Can you name any honest libs?????

[TrueSense]

With all due respect, Roberts was known as silver tounged. He was also involoved in the 2000 election fiasco. Lastly, the guy was a member of the Fedralist society. Most of those guys are bad news becuase they hate the average individual and believe in more autocratic and big institution situation.

I do not know how he can be surprised. Roberts would say anything to get confirmed. Is it true Reid was a US marine ?

[connorin]

"they hate the average individual and believe in more autocratic and big institution situation"

Then Reid Obama Pelosi socialist troika oughtta LURVE him

[eyepatch]

Respectfully Mr. Reid you had to have known
that any body GWB brought to the US Supreme
Court was gonna be a right wing ideolog...­.

it's plain and simple Justice Roberts was gonna be
the most conservative person Bush and his people
could find!!!!

time to move on and not let laws get to point whereas
the US Supreme Court doesn't have to interpret them
because we know the outcome will not sit well with
the average american!

[MattePgh]

Reid is laying the rails for an upcoming SC vacancy.

This is how you play the long game.

[connorin]

Reid and you guys do not want moderates on SCOTUS...n­ot unless you think Bill Ayers is a moderate

[whiteconch]

Get off Reid's case...he may not be the saviest in the bunch but the most loathsome is Roberts for how he slithered into office answering as minimal amount of questions as he could to avoid the backlash that is now surely on it's way,..brot­has!!!

[LeftRight]

On the other hand, Reid and many others had their chance to ask him questions, and yet even though he "lied to them" and "didn't give them enough information" they still confirmed him....

[zelduh]

That is the real issue. I am angry at all the Democrats who voted in favor of Roberts.

[dirtfreak]

Just another example of the Dems sleepwalking through the Bush years, giving him whatever he wanted, so what, they 'wouldn't look bad'?!! There was plenty of information out about Roberts and Alito, that everybody, it seemed, except the Dems in Congress cared about. Just rubber-stamp another bad Justice (and Chief Justice, at that), and damn the consequences. We'll just act like we're surprised when he shows that he's the ultra-conservative that most of us knew he was to begin with.

[Diana]

I disagree. There will always be criminals and con men. But if we can't rely on the forces of good (in this case, the democrats) to oppose them--honestly and aggressively--then these forces of good can be considered just as corrupt.

For god's sake, I vote for dems to OPPOSE the republican nonsense. Where the hell are they?

[Tyrione]

I see your candor and raise you a boat load of Stare Decisis.

[Petesdaddy]

It's ludicrous to say that a Republican would lie about being an ultraconservative just to get a job with the Bush administration. Absolutely ludicrous.

[hapkidokid]

"I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!"

Reid is such a tool. And not a very useful one either.

[SOLERSO68]

I havent heard anything about roberts gambling. The republicans sent a right wing idealogue to the supreme court who misrepresented his beliefs and opinions in testimony, before his confirmation. the only reasons for roberts to do this is that 1. he is dishonest, 2. he knew his beliefs and opinions are far outside the mainstream of American publica opinion, and that he wouldjnt be confirmed unless he misrepresented himself, which he did.Reid and other non-liberal, "mainstream" Dems tried to question him repatedly on specific issues which he evaded, or misrepresented ( lied about).

[zelduh]

Don't you think that Roberts's evasiveness should have been grounds for a "NO" vote?

[O2BNTEXAS]

Reid said Roberts lied...LOL­...Do you know how to tell if Reid is lying…his lips are moving!

[jazabelz]

You're on the wrong bloc -- you need to go to Yahoo! Your lies and slander just don't cut it here.

[WorldsGreatestActor]

WOW! WHAT A SHOCKER!!!

[damselfly1600]

I can't believe that Reid and others were that naive as to think that they were actually being told the truth by anyone in the former administration. They are now just worried about the elections and trying to do the old c.y.a. These dems who consistently caved to republican blackmail need to be defeated in the next election. Either they are too dumb to be where they are or they do actually have something to hide -- either way they should be gone because they are not supporting Obama and his policies as strongly as they should.

[smanche243]

You are right on target. Unfortunately, it is not just Republicans who are puppets of large corporations. Too often we (Democrats) are told what we want to hear by our Democrat leaders and then behind the scenes they are doing the bidding of their corprate masters. Certainly the Reid / Pelosi team has been a huge disspaointment. They lead the House and Senate and yet there is still no formal investigation of the Bush era crimes. What are they afraid of? We need leaders with backbone that will stand their ground. Spineless Democrats voted for Roberts confirmation. It was obvious to all who can think and reason where Roberts stood on the issues.

[Meme27]

Harry don't bother comlpaining when over 3/4 of the senate supported Roberts...­when we had liberal justices up the senate easiy suported them

Harry show us the money (a cool million) illegally gotten from your land deal in Nevada... big Mormon thief