From FoxNews: Dems Slam Alito's Alumni Group.
In one of several interrogations on Wednesday, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., demanded to know if Alito had read a 1983 essay stating: "People nowadays just don't seem to know their place. Everywhere one turns, blacks and Hispanics are demanding jobs simply because they're black and Hispanic. The physically handicapped are trying to gain equal representation in professional sports. And homosexuals are demanding the government vouchsafe them the right to bear children."The essay, entitled "In Defense of Elitism," was printed in Prospect, a magazine published by a now-defunct alumni organization to which Alito wrote he had once belonged. ...
Alito denied to the senators that he knew anything about the "anti-women and anti-black" leanings of CAP's leadership and denounced such thinking.
"I disavow them. I deplore them. They represent things that I have always stood against and I can't express too strongly," Alito responded to questioning.
"I disagree with all of that. I would never endorse it. I never have endorsed it. Had I thought that that's what this organization stood for I would never associate myself with it in any way," Alito told Kennedy after the senator read aloud excerpts from the 1983 essay, further defending himself by reminding Kennedy of his humble background as the son of immigrants.
He added that he purposely avoided affiliation with Princeton's infamous "eating clubs," which have an elitist reputation and did not admit women during Alito's undergraduate years.
From FoxNews: Off Hot Seat, Alito Cools His Jets.
UPDATE I -- Jan. 13: Michelle Malkin makes a good observation about the Alito hearings: A Woman The Dems Don't Want To Hear (via Steven Den Beste).
The Right Place notes that Sen. Kennedy was quoting a satire piece when criticizing Judge Alito.
And Cathy Young says that some concern is justified about Alito's views of individual rights vs. government (via InstaPundit).
UPDATE II: From The Washington Times: Kennedy belongs to exclusive club (via TIA Daily).
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy belongs to a social club for Harvard students and alumni that was evicted from campus nearly 20 years ago after refusing to allow female members.According to the online membership directory of the Owl Club, the Massachusetts Democrat updated his personal information -- including the address of his home, which is in his wife's name -- on Sept. 7.
The club has long been reviled on campus as "sexist" and "elitist" and, in 1984, was booted from the university for violating federal anti-discrimination laws, authored by Mr. Kennedy.
UPDATE III -- Jan. 17: You can't make this stuff up. From AP: Kennedy Severs Ties to Harvard Club.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, who criticized Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito's past membership in a controversial Princeton University alumni club, severed his ties Tuesday with a former Harvard college social club that bans women members.Posted by Forkum at January 12, 2006 03:57 PM
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