Harry Reid, the U.S. Senate's Democratic leader, has suggested that four of his Republican colleagues be considered by President Bush as potential Supreme Court justices. Among Reid's recommendations: Florida Sen. Mel Martinez. "There are people who serve in the Senate now who are Republicans who I think would be outstanding Supreme Court members," Reid said.
Martinez is best remembered by gay voters for his rabidly homophobic slanders, which were the cornerstone of his election bid. He accused his opponent, conservative former GOP Congressman Bill McCollum, of being "the new darling of the homosexual extremists" and "anti-family," and of trying to appease "the radical homosexual lobby" because he supported a bipartisan federal hate-crimes bill that included sexual orientation.
Walter Olson notes that all four of Reid's recommendations are reliable allies of the trial lawyers' lobby, a key Democratic Party funding bloc. Olson writes, "while none of Sen. Reid's four faves are identified with the GOP's socially liberal Chafee-Snowe wing, all four. . .have repeatedly broken partisan ranks to side with the Democrats and the organized bar against liability reforms. "
Apparently, Reid is ok with a virulent homophobe (and maybe even a Roe v. Wade skeptic) as long as he'd be likely to keep the lawyers happy.
Sure looks like someone's taking HRC and its gay dollars for
Democrats for granted.