Ford, black leaders at odds over Alito

[ProSense]

Even though he's not in the Senate, he expressed what the others did today, and the Repugs will use their no on confirmation, but yes on cloture against them.

Ford, black leaders at odds over Alito

By Peter Savodnik

Rep. Harold Ford’s opposition to filibustering Judge Samuel Alito’s Supreme Court nomination is exacerbating tensions between the Tennessee Democrat and black political leaders, underscoring the fine line that the Senate hopeful must walk.

Ford, running for the seat being vacated by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R), said Friday that Alito should get an up-or-down vote, which would more or less assure the nominee’s approval. Ford’s comments came the same day that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced its support for the filibuster spearheaded by Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, both Massachusetts Democrats.

The comments also follow attempts by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to derail the nomination of Alito, whom Democrats have accused of repeatedly siding with corporations in employment-discrimination cases, watering down civil liberties and other issues.

That effort entailed lobbying members of the bipartisan Gang of 14 to vote no on Alito and issuing a statement in early December, weeks before Alito’s Senate hearings, declaring the CBC’s opposition to the nominee.


http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Campaign/013106.html

There was no political risk involved in voting no on cloture because only the Repugs (but certainly not all Repug voters) wanted Alito.

[AspenRose]

1. He's in TN, he's black and he's trying to get elected to the senate.

Not surprised by his actions at all.....

[ProSense]

2. I'd agree if this was

about his vote for or against confirmation. He said he would vote against Alito, which means his constituents are OK with that, so there really is no excuse to vote for cloture.