Alito's backers threaten Dems

Matt Stoller notes that the Republican senators in charge of shepherding Sam Alito onto the Supreme Court are threatening to smear Democrats who question Alito's character:

The GOP team working with the White House to win confirmation of conservative Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito is putting out a warning to Alito's Democratic critics: Question his ethics and character at your own peril. In their sights: Sens. Edward Kennedy and Joe Biden. "We're absolutely prepared to have an ethics debate with Teddy Kennedy," says one insider who mentioned the "C" word: Chappaquiddick. "Questioning Alito's credibility and character will be hit back hard," said one of the Alito supporters. [USnews.com]

The arrogance of Alito's backers is appalling. How dare they try to intimidate their colleagues? It's the Senate's job to question Alito's credibility and character.

Comments

[norbizness]

Frist is trying one last-dash attempt to salvage his 2008 Presidential aspirations. I think it goes something like this...

GOP Leadership: Look, we tried playing nice...

Democrats: What are you talking about?

GOP Leadership: But you didn't want to be reasonable...

Democrats: I seriously haven't the foggiest idea...

GOP Leadership: WOULD YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY?!?

[Eli]

I can't overstate how profoundly not-scared I am of "the 'C' Word."

[Trystero]

Q: What did Ted Kennedy say to Gary Hart?

A: You should have let me drive her home.

ca. 1988

[¡El Gato Negro!]

¿Chappaquiddick?
joo must be joking.
¿Thees ees their how-joo-say "Beeg-gun"?

hah! I bathe myself at their Chappaquiddick".

(bathe bathe)

so.

[Scott Lemieux]

In addition, of course, two parties can play at that game...

[Eli]

That's a good point. But it'd be pretty hard to counter the Chappaquiddick allegation! What are the odds that a member of the current Bush family was once at fault in a fatal car accident but inexplicably escaped any kind of responsibility?