PRESS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 21, 2005

**Press Release**

Rhode Island NOW Condemns Senator Chafee for Support of John Roberts’ Confirmation

PROVIDENCE - Today, Senator Chafee has publicly stated that he will support Judge John Roberts’ confirmation to replace Justice Rehnquist as Chief Justice of the United States. “Senator Chafee has made the wrong decision in choosing to support this anti-choice, anti-civil rights and anti-environment nominee,” said Meaghan Lamarre, President of the Rhode Island National Organization for Women.

“While it may be true that replacing a conservative with a conservative won’t shift the balance of the Court,” continued Lamarre, “we believe that as a supporter of women’s reproductive rights, it was Senator Chafee’s duty to oppose a nominee who believes that Roe v. Wade should be overturned.”

“Senator Chafee has defended himself by saying that his party calls it ‘a smart move’”, Lamarre went on to say, “but we think he would do well to stick to his own pro-choice values, and those of the Rhode Islanders who elected him, rather than towing the party line.”

Lamarre concluded, “By ignoring the dangers of Judge Roberts’ record, Senator Chafee has failed pro-choice Rhode Islanders and we will remember this in November.”

Chafee Criticized For Supporting Supreme Court Nominee

09-22-2005 3:46 AM

(Providence, RI) — The chairman of the Rhode Island Democratic party calls Senator Lincoln Chafee’s support of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Roberts, quote, “blind obedience to the Bush administration.” William Lynch alleges that Chafee’s decision to support Roberts is based on how the Republican party wants him to vote, and not whether he personally believes the nominee should be confirmed. Lynch charges that Chafee has, in his words, “sold his political soul” for a 500-thousand-dollar contribution from the Republican National Committee. Chafee faces a Republican primary challenge next year from Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey. Two Democrats, Secretary of State Matt Brown and former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, are also hoping to unseat the incumbent. The Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Women is also condemning Chafee for his support of Roberts, saying Chafee has made the wrong decision to support a man it characterizes as “anti-choice, anti-civil rights and anti-environment.”