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