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Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion

From the AP:

Alito's politically conservative views were not in dispute. "Of course he's against abortion," his 90-year-old mother Rose told reporters at her home in Hamilton, N.J.

Judge Alito's son is a student at Colgate University who writes opinion pieces for The Forum. His self-written bio was scratched from the editor's page. (Cached version showing him to be the Editor here.) [Via Max Blumenthal at HuffPo.] Here's a section:

Shortly after, I became interested in politics and got involved with Gary Condit (not like that). I served as a parking aide to Nancy Pelosi (I won't even start on her) but was fired when Barbara Boxer came onto me.

As of now, his columns remain. In one, he makes a poignant plea for stem cell research. On other topics, he appears to be quite the conservative. Here's one on the importance of the Bush-Kerry election.

He writes about the appointment of Judges.

It is essential that judges who interpret law rather than public opinion be appointed.

On Abortion and gay rights, he's a conservative, referring to those who oppose abortion and gay marriage as those who would preserve "integral characteristics of American society.:

But perhaps an even greater threat to the definition of American Conservatism than a growing federal government or a retreat in the War on Terror is the fate of those uniquely American characteristics. And it is here and the President excels. Conservatives can find faults George Bush's programs: he's raised tariffs, he's created a new cabinet level department, and he's been a big spender, but he has held steadfast to the most essential parts of conservative doctrine. He's stimulated commerce by cutting taxes for small businesses, and he's defended the role of faith in American society by challenging Roe v. Wade, limiting government funding of stem cell research, and supporting a Constitutional amendment defining marriage between a man and a woman. The list could go on and on. This represents the starkest difference between Bush and Kerry: while Bush is an eager defender of these American traits, Kerry, despite his rhetoric, is unwilling to defend these integral characteristics of American society.

On the terror war, he sounds immature, as well as uninformed:

Even more disturbing to conservatives should be Kerry's ideas of American power. Despite hawkish rhetoric that implies he will fight the War on Terror as aggressively as President Bush, it is clear that John Kerry remains, as he was in 1971 testifying before the Senate, the anti-war candidate. If elected, we can expect Kerry to reduce fighting terrorism to a matter of law enforcement as it was under Clinton. There are a variety of reasons why Kerry favors this method, but the danger of this method is obvious. Placing the primary anti-terrorism apparatus in the homeland rather than overseas allows terrorists to organize, plan attacks, and pursue weapons of mass destruction uninhibited. It was this approach, carried out by three presidents that allowed the terrorist threat that hit us on September 11 to grow. A retreat in the War on Terror is more than just a change of course, as Kerry would argue, but represents an elemental difference in thinking about the military's role in asserting American policy: while George Bush believes the military is a useful tool for ensuring America's national security, John Kerry believes the military is a reminder of humankind's, even America's barbarism.

Do all children share the views of their parents? Of course not. On the other hand, I developed my politics from my parents. The TL kid has long shared my political views and I don't mind saying that I purposefully indoctrinated him over dinner since he was in pre-school. Sure, by the time he was in college, they were no longer my views but his views, but still, they took root at home. So I think it's at least interesting, if not informative, to read the young Mr. Alito's writings.

< Alito on the First Amendment | A Defender Praises Alito >
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    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#1)
    by ras on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    300 judicial opinions, including one in favor of PBA (based on higher precedent), and all you can attack the guy on is what his Mom thinks his personal views are? Thin gruel these days, I guess. OK, look, if there were a show-stopper you'd'a found it by now. There's none. So make up your minds already: to fb or not to fb? That's your only real decision on this nomination.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    Ras, you've become a chatterer again. You are back to being limited to four posts a day.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#3)
    by ras on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    TL, Ras, you've become a chatterer again. You are back to being limited to four posts a day. Back to being limited? I was never off. Did I go over today, btw? Sorry about that, Chief. The fb q remains tho as it seems to be the foundation of any D strategy re the nominee. C'mon TL, as of this very moment, were it solely up to you, would you try to fb? I understand it's a call you could validly change your mind on as you learn more, but for the nonce, knowing what you know so far, would you? See you tomorrow.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    deleted, urls not in html format

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#5)
    by DonS on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    When I started at "the Gate" I did share my parents views; although they were not rabid, they were Repubs. I came out of college, after JFK's murder, civil right's marches, etc. a lefty, very left. Maybe there is hope for young Alito.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    He's against abortion? This is news??? Did you think a Republican (IE - conservative) prez would nominate someone who isn't? Your grasp of the obvious is amazing.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    Alito's kids seems a very confused intellect. Arguing for no-brainers like Stem-Cell research means nothing. His Bush/Kerry article evidenced either a willful blindness or childish stupidity and a complete inability to assess a personality. The kid seems a product of a conservative family that doesn't practice very much self-criticism. Doesn't wanna upset daddy too much. That seems about it. If this is the acorn, the tree ain't that healthy.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#8)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    Charley, Bring up the Italian=Mafia connection??? What the f*ck are you babbling about?!? Accusing me of some slur?? I said nothing of the sort. You either made sh*t up in a reactionary fit of retardation, or you're incapable of basic reading comprehension. Or both. And more. Persona non grata, you child. Have a nice life.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    I opposite Alito, not because of his apparent anti-abortion stance, but for other reasons that I feel are actually more important. His views on the commerce clause are especially dangerous as it would put Federal employee discrimination, civil rights, and environmental protection legislation on very shaky grounds. It could render the EPA virtually useless. See my extended opinion here: The Agenda Gap

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:37 PM EST
    Shockingly, Ariadne goes even further, suggesting looking into Alito's nieces, nephews, and cousins. I'd certainly expect that level of sleaze from H&B, but not from this site.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#11)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Charley, Good (if that's the word) to see there's some kind of sentient human being lurking behind the angry rhetoric. But, look, we all have to listen to ourselves. And we have to learn. I'm as angry and f'd up a guy as there is, but I try to keep level about it, realize that sometimes I'm simply as full of sh*t as anyone else. And I can laugh about it. Take that as advice or leave it. Peace.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    DonS, In describing your political conversion in college and applying that experience directly to the young Alito, you fail to account for the disgust that many young Republicans now have for the entrenched liberal politics at unversities. It is no longer a blow against conformity to be a liberal as it was in the 1960s: it is yours that is now the old and worn-out ideology which stands to be torn down by fresh blood. How does it feel to be on the other side of a revolution, baby boomer?

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#13)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Shal, I deal with many college students. Their "rebellion" consists of calling themselves "conservative", while holding liberal social views, with a touch of libertarianism. There are some neocons, but they are few. The "discust" that you mention is usually towards some of the more asinine extremists at the universities. They tend to be equally offended by the war on drugs. So, besides calling DonS old, your point was.......?

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#14)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Let them grimace, let them filibuster, let them cry all they want. If women's rights was so freakin important to the DNC, then why didn't they make it a real issue in any of the last three elections. Watch and see. It'll be the same in 2006. This is what happens when you roll over again and again and again, it all goes back especially to 2002 when these wonderful Democratic Senators, afraid of media spin, rolled over and played dead. Then was the time to fight. Some like Paul in LA are fond of producing roll calls to prove that the Dems didn't unanimously sell us out. No matter. Enough of them did, the party structure did. And then of course there's the nerve of the Rethugs smirking and issuing platitudes about the Afghani and Iraqi women. As if they give a damn. God bless Amoco/Exxon and Shell/Lionize them/Subsidize them/With the blood of the poor and the dumb. I have cast my last vote, and wince that I participated in the 2004 sham. I know lots of idiots who say 'you can't complain if you don't vote.' That's nonsense. Offer liberty a bullet to the head or one to the heart and it refuses to choose, it still has a right to complain that it's being killed.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Roger, FDR-style liberalism is the mortal enemy of libertarianism because it depends upon statism to achieve the desired outcomes--and yet you make it sound as though the students that you have met can hold on to a mixture of both political beliefs without conflict. Either they are dim bulbs, or you are not hearing them right. Something is missing there. On the other hand, conservative beliefs and libertarianism have a great deal more room for synergy, even on social issues like school vouchers and free speech, and I find many of the people I know are split between the two ideologies; but no thinking person, however young, is going to be an FDR-style statist "liberal" and also a credible libertarian at the same time.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#16)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Actually Shal you're making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Gasp! You're even lying. With a few exceptions, today's American libertarian opines a lot about freedom but at the end of the day will happily vote for Porky Pig if Mr. Pig promises to cut their taxes. As far as social issues, said libertarian couldn't, quite frankly, care less. And wars are cool with them, too, as long as funding said wars won't require a tax hike.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#17)
    by DonS on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    My remaking during college was never primarily one of nonconformity. Rather, my heart was awakened to the proper role of a citizen to care for his fellow. Yes, that makes me at least a liberal but I would sooner consider that a human value than a political persuasion. I know that right is always in the eyes of the beholder, so on that philosophical point we will get nowhere. But I am fairly certain that in the the 20th - 21st century "conservatives" have consistently been more cold hearted in policy. Maybe I revolt at that philosophical precision that conveniently ignores the real life plight of the majority of citizens. The revolution I experienced in college was of the mind and heart. It had little to do with the temporal vagaries of political parties.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#18)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Shal, You've gone from '60s liberalism to FDR style liberalism. Decide what you want to talk about, then we can give it a go

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#19)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Glanton, When has the Democratic Party caved on reproductive rights? I'm no strident party hack, but, on this issue at any rate, I see a distinct dividing line between the parties. Oughtta be that way on more issues, we'd probably agree, but on this one I'm with the Dems.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#20)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    And wars are cool with them, too, as long as funding said wars won't require a tax hike.
    And as long as they aren't gonna have to fight in it. But that's the great thing about libertarians, they not only know that there are others that can do the dying for them, they see this as the natural order of things. In short, they have zero conscience.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#21)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Ernesto: Perzactly. ;-0 Dadler: The Dems caved on Reproductive Rights in particular and Civil Rights in general by virtue of their silence, during elections, on this issue. Kerry, for example, might have made civil liberties the centerpiece of his campaign. Instead he whimpered a few platitudes about the recklessness of the Patriot Act. Gore in 2000 was equally afraid to discuss such things when he had the big microphone. In short, Dadler, caring about something in your secret heart, or even taking a few jabs at John Roberts during his Confirmation hearing doesn't exactly move one to patriotic lyricizing, does it? That is why I'm not "with the Dems" on this one, or on any other one.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    RogerS: "Rather, my heart was awakened to the proper role of a citizen to care for his fellow." Do you still view that same role as proper, even with the disastrous impact of the Great Society firmly established as a warning to those who would think with their hearts and not their brains? What you call cold-hearted is what any reasonable man calls tough love. Roger: Certain parts of 1960s liberalism are merely extensions of the earlier FDR-style liberalism. Granted, FDR was patriotic and pro-defense, but the same statism employed by the earlier liberals was not at all rejected by the 1960s liberals. You have dodged whether such liberalism is compatible with a coherent support of libertarianism, as you claim to have observed. Ernesto: War and strife are unavoidable elements of human interaction. Those who think everything can resolved peacefully are merely slaves who have yet to find their masters. Preserving one's freedom requires either fighting for one's own liberty, or paying someone else to do it. I know which I prefer, and that is why I pay my taxes without complaint! As Orwell said, "Peaceful people sleep safe at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." Behind all our vaunted human rights which are supposedly inalienable is the truth that might alone makes right. We must honor those who fight for us.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#23)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    Shal, I am just reporting what I see, I am not saying that I agree. These kids seem to take the anti-authoritarian parts of '60s Liberalism and mix it with libertarianism. Often their views are not consistent to my eyes, but they would claim that I am wrong.

    Re: Alito's Mom: He's Anti-Abortion (none / 0) (#24)
    by DonS on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:05:38 PM EST
    disastrous impact of the Great Society firmly established as a warning Premise rejected. So, for example, you would call the headstart program disasterous? I've worked in the anti-poverty field a lot, and have seen first hand the immense benefits of just that program. Or perhaps the NLS (neighborhood legal services) program? Or such OEO type programs as home weaterization for low income families. "Tough love". Ha, I've been a drug counselor for almost 25 years; don't preach to me about tough love. Take your broad brush elsewhere. Libertarian political philosphy is fine in theory.