Obama Claims No Abortion Litmus Test for Supreme Court, But Establishes One
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 21, 2010
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — President Barack Obama met top Senate leaders today to discuss his upcoming Supreme Court nomination and he promised he will have no abortion litmus test. However, most of the potential nominees said to be on his short list to replace pro-abortion Justice John Paul Stevens also back unlimited abortions.
Still, the New York Times indicated Obama wants a new high court justice who respects individual rights and women’s rights — code phrases for abortion.
Obama responded to a reporter’s question and reiterated his own support for abortion without limits, but put forward the no litmus test pledge but immediately contradicted himself.
“I don’t have litmus tests around any of these issues, but I will say that I want somebody who is going to be interpreting our Constitution in a way that takes into account individual rights and that includes women’s rights and that is going to be something that is very important to me," Obama said, essentially putting a litmus test into place.
Obama added that he believes the Constitution guarantees the right to privacy and "bodily integrity," though he made no mention of the bodily rights of unborn children.
According to White House officials, Obama is looking at making his nomination by May 26, although likely earlier in the month. He confirmed he wants to move the process along quickly.
“It’s very important, particularly given the important cases that may be coming before the Supreme Court, that we get this process wrapped up so that a new justice can be seated and staffed and can work effectively with his or her colleagues in time for the fall session,” he said.
Solicitor General Elena Kagan and Judges Diane Wood of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Merrick Garland of the United States Court of Appeals for the District Circuit are considered leading candidates.
Both Kagan and Wood have extensive pro-abortion records and would prompt vigorous opposition from pro-life groups.
Kagan was the dean of Harvard law school and has spent most of her career in academia and government — in part as a legal counsel in the administration of pro-abortion President Bill Clinton –and prior to becoming the attorney for the Obama administration before the Supreme Court.
LifeNews.com talked with Wendy Wright, the president of Concerned Women for America, who said Kagan was Associate Counsel to President Bill Clinton and Deputy Assistant to him for domestic policy — which, under Clinton, advocated abortion.
Wood is a member of the federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals and she has a long history of taking the pro-abortion side when it comes to pro-life issues.
Wood ruled against bans on partial-birth abortion in cases involving legislation from Wisconsin and Illinois. She joined the federal court in ruling that Wisconsin’s law was unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s first ruling on partial-birth abortions in 2000.
Judge Wood also ruled in favor of abortion advocates by allowing them to misuse the RICO law designed to control mob activities to sue pro-life protesters.
Judges Sidney Thomas of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Ann Williams of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; pro-abortion Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan and former Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears of the Georgia Supreme Court are other potential nominees.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who backs abortion and Martha Minow, dean of Harvard Law School, and Justice Carlos Moreno of the California Supreme Court are other potential replacements for Stevens.
Top pro-abortion groups are urging Obama to select the most radical pro-abortion justice possible.
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