Dianne Feinstein Remembers Her Roots

Posted on September 13, 2005

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is the only woman on the Judiciary Committee which is currently questioning John Roberts as to his fitness to be the youngest Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 200 years. And she made her position on women's issues crystal clear yesterday during the opening statements phase of the confirmation hearings, saying that would find it difficult to vote for a nominee who was going to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Ok, that was not as strong as it could have been, but at least she said something.

"As the only woman on the committee," she said, she had a special job to make sure that the "hard-earned autonomy" of women is protected. She traced the history of the rights of women, noting how long it has taken for those rights to be secured in the workforce and how women have had to "fight their way" into traditional fields.
"For me ... one of the most important issues that needs to be addressed by you is the constitutional right to privacy." She said she was concerned by a trend on the court to restrict that right. "It would be very difficult for me to vote to confirm someone whom I knew would overturn Roe v. Wade."
Unlike younger women, she said, she remembers the days of "back alley abortions." She said she knew a woman who committed suicide because of an inability to get an abortion. "I don't want to go back to those days," she said.

Camera cuts to Roberts showed his appellate training: he didn't even flinch when Feinstein made her statements. No nodding, no squinting, no fidgeting, no raised eyebrows, no steam coming out of his ears--nothing. Every time abortion rights were brought up, he kept the same expression: serious, brow furrowed, head cocked toward the speaker to show he's listening intently. He's good, scary good. Of course, it's early days yet. Maybe someone will say something to really get him riled up. But somehow I doubt it.