NYT:Thrust Into Limelight and for Some a Symbol of D.C.'s Bite(Mrs. Alito)

[DeepModem Mom]

Thrust Into Limelight and for Some a Symbol of Washington's Bite
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
Published: January 13, 2006


WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 - All week long, Martha-Ann Alito has been a silent presence on Capitol Hill, a supporting character in the Supreme Court confirmation show starring her husband, Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. But on Thursday, a day after she left the hearing room in tears, Mrs. Alito was in the limelight.

Republicans held her up as a victim of Democrats' browbeating, while Democrats, backpedaling, insisted it was a Republican, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who caused Mrs. Alito's upset.

One fact was not in dispute: Mrs. Alito has generated sympathy for her husband in the hearing room and, perhaps, beyond Washington among Americans who had otherwise tuned out.

"You know, we talk about stare decisis, we talk about all of these arcane subjects that only a lawyer could love," Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas, said. "But that's something all of us could understand. So I think it's had an effect."

At the center of the discussion is a gregarious former law librarian who has become, for some, a symbol of all that is wrong with Washington politics and the toll that it takes on families. In some ways, Mrs. Alito is a classic suburban mother, working part-time as a substitute teacher when she is not shuttling her teenage daughter, a champion swimmer, to practices and meets. Friends say she has devoted the last 20 years to raising her children and supporting her husband and his career....


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/13/politics/politicsspecial1/13wife.html

[Connie_Corleone]

1. Cry me a friggin' river.

Here. Let me get out my itty bitty violin.
:nopity:

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. As though there weren't enough reasons, the dems should filibuster

just because Alito and the repukes brought Mrs. Alito in to offer her emotional bullshit.

We need to send the message to the repukes that their grandstanding in this way is not acceptable, and that loading situations with picture perfect easily-used propaganda will get them shut down every time.

[KittyWampus]

3. Remember The Fake Outrage At Kerry' Mentioning Cheney's Lesbian Daughter.

even though she was a professional lesbian going around to gay bars to promote Coors beer with Mr. Leather.

We must expose the fake, MANUFACTURED emotional reactions.

People are being cynically manipulated.

It doesn't work just to refute these liars... you must expose their method.

Like with the Swift Vet Liars... expose how they were connected to Bush/Rove.

[depakid]

4. "One fact was not in dispute"- sickening

this is why I hardly ever bother much with the Times anymore. It's gotten as bad as the rest of the corporate media drivel.

There's rarely any HONEST ANALYSIS going on in that paper these days. It's all about the Republican agenda- and how they can further it, while paying lip service to their moderate and progressive readers.

At this point, I think their credibility is pretty well beyond redemption.

[Zenlitened]

5. "Thrust into the limelight." Yeah, right. She sat back there like...

... an apprentice mime, mugging for the camera, giving a sort of visual commentary on every minute of the proceedings. A real innocent caught in the crossfire, that one. :eyes:

[phantom power]

6. Three words: White House Dog.

[Cha]

7. It didn't cut any fucking ice

with me..when alito does something to hurt women or children and martha-ann cries then I'll take notice.

So don't tell me how to think, you stupid tool, cornyn.

[kskiska]

8. Uh oh. She's "French"

(snip)

She is, they say, an extremely intelligent and well-read woman who orders restaurant meals in fluent French and recently took a philosophy class for intellectual stimulation.

[Demeter]

9. where Did She Get Those Togs?

Sear's Women's Dept in 1963?