Well, the obstructionist liberals in the Senate Judiciary Committee are at it once again.  They have initiated another campaign of defamation and deceit against another one of President Bush's judicial nominees.  Liberal senators are attempting to block an up-or-down vote on Judge Leslie Southwick, the president's 5th Circuit nominee from Mississippi.  Judge Southwick's nomination may be defeated in the Senate Judiciary Committee as early as tomorrow (Thursday morning) if senators on the Judiciary Committee don't hear from you. 

In today's culture, which is unfortunately largely shaped by rampant judicial activism on the left, it's crucial that we have judges in place who are going to exercise judicial restraint and strictly interpret the Constitution.  By all accounts, Judge Southwick is exceptionally qualified and fits the strict constructionist mold of a Justice Roberts or a Justice Alito. 

 

And that's exactly what leftist special interest groups and liberal senators want to avoid.  Those of us who care about the activist path our courts are heading down need to act quickly.

 

We need at least one Democratic member of the committee - most likely Senator Kohl, Feinstein, or Leahy - to vote to report Southwick to the floor, even if it's without a recommendation.  That's all we're asking.  Report him to the floor, and give him an up-or-down vote.  Judge Southwick is eminently qualified, and no one can deny that fact with any credibility.  

 

Please call or e-mail members of the Judiciary Committee, especially Senators Kohl, Feinstein and Leahy.  Tell them to distance themselves from the groups on the left that have vilified Judge Southwick and every other single white male appeals court nominee from the South.  And please also tell Republican senators to follow through on their promise to do whatever it takes to stop obstruction of the President's judicial nominees.

 

Remember, if the flimsy charges against Judge Southwick succeed in killing his nomination, then an ominous precedent will be set; as long as the Democrats control the Senate, no nominee will be able to even get out of committee without the implicit permission of groups on the left.

 

Please act now by telephoning or e-mailing the following Senators and asking them to send Judge Southwick's nomination to the floor for the up-or-down vote it deserves.

 

Patrick J. Leahy - (202) 224-4242 CHAIRMAN, D-VERMONT Herb Kohl - (202) 224-5653 D-WISCONSIN Dianne Feinstein - (202) 224-3841 D-CALIFORNIA

Edward M. Kennedy D-MASSACHUSETTS   Arlen Specter RANKING MEMBER, R-PENNSYLVANIA   Joseph R. Biden, Jr. D-DELAWARE   Orrin G. Hatch R-UTAH   Charles E. Grassley R-IOWA   Jon Kyl R-ARIZONA   Russell D. Feingold D-WISCONSIN   Jeff Sessions R-ALABAMA

Charles E. Schumer D-NEW YORK   Lindsey Graham R-SOUTH CAROLINA   Richard J. Durbin D-ILLINOIS   John Cornyn R-TEXAS   Benjamin L. Cardin D-MARYLAND   Sam Brownback R-KANSAS   Sheldon Whitehouse D-RHODE ISLAND   Tom Coburn R-OKLAHOMA

 

 

Sincerely,

 

J. Matt Barber

Policy Director for Cultural Issues