PRESS RELEASES
National Organization for Women - New York State Doubts Harriet Miers Desire to Protect Women's Rights
October 14, 2005 |
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On behalf of over 35,000 supporters, the National Organization for Women- New York State , we are expressing grave concern over the nomination and possible confirmation of Harriett Miers for the next Supreme Court Justice. If confirmed, Ms. Miers will replace Justice O’Connor, a critical swing vote that will affect women’s rights for centuries to come. With her pending confirmation, she will be the vote that will either secure or destroy Roe v Wade .
To repeat the same concerns as Senator Schumer of this great State of New York, ““We know even less about Harriet Miers than we did about John Roberts and because this is the critical swing seat on the court, Americans will need to know a lot more about Miers' judicial philosophy and legal background before any vote for confirmation.”” But here is what we do know.
Miers is a George W. Bush loyalist, having worked closely with him for more than a decade. Bush defended her nomination, saying: "But you got to understand, because of our closeness, I know the character of the person." Reportedly, Miers told David Frum that Bush was the most brilliant man she'd ever met.
Miers has no paper trail and has never served as a judge. Her judicial philosophy and approach to fundamental rights as a Justice may be impossible to determine, even with a Senate hearing. And, unlike the right wing, NOW has been consistent over the years and steadfast in our rejection of blank-slate nominees.
According to close friend Nathan Hecht (considered the most conservative member of the Texas Supreme Court) and other Texas conservatives, Miers' opposition to abortion is widely known and has been for more than 15 years.
Prominent women who met with Miers in Dallas during her campaign for the City Council relate that she was vociferous in her opposition to abortion, even in the context of protecting the clinics from violent demonstrators, repeatedly referring to "killing babies" during their conversations.
In 1993, as president of the Texas Bar Association, Miers led an effort to overturn the American Bar Association's position in support of abortion rights.
Some are encouraged because it was noted that Ms. Miers contributed $1,000 to the Gore Campaign in 1988, $1,000 to the Democratic National Committee in 1988, and again $1,000 to Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, who was running both for re-election to the Senate and as the Democratic nominee for vice president. But let’s not forget, Miers contributed $5,000 to Bush's 2000 campaign and $5,000 to the Bush-Cheney Recount Fund. This nominee is no shoo-in for women’s rights,” Pappas stated.
Pappas further stated “The National Organization for Women- New York State is watching and waiting to see how women’s rights will fare with Ms. Miers as the next nominee. We implore the United States Senate to give the citizens of this country a Justice who will protect women’s rights and all other civil rights that have been fought for and won in the last 40 years.”
The National Organization for Women- New York State is a political action organization that seeks to achieve full equality for women. NOW maintains over 550 chapters nationwide and is home to over ½ million contributing members.
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