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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 21 augusT 2018

Fearful of losing Roe, left pushes Schumer for action

By ALAN FRAM bench, particularly in a
Associated Press coming case challenging
WASHINGTON (AP) — At protections for people with
least once a week, they pre-existing conditions. But
assemble in Capitol meet- an Associated Press review
ing rooms for an hour-long in July of Kavanaugh’s de-
strategy session. Senate cisions, other writings and
Minority Leader Chuck speeches provided few
Schumer convenes the clues about how he might
gatherings, which regularly rule on the law.
include several Democrat- Schumer is also increas-
ic senators, a dozen Senate ingly focused on the GOP’s
aides and representatives refusal to request the re-
of about 20 liberal organi- lease of millions of pages
zations. of documents from Ka-
The goal: figuring out how vanaugh’s three years as
to derail President Donald President George W. Bush’s
Trump’s Supreme Court staff secretary, which could
pick, conservative appel- reveal the nominee’s views
late judge Brett Kavana- on touchy subjects like tor-
ugh. Up to now, partici- ture of terrorist suspects,
pants say the strategy ses- abortion and government
sions have been cordial. eavesdropping.
Yet with Senate Judiciary With many documents
Committee hearings just probably remaining secret
two weeks off, cracks in the until after a Senate con-
alliance are showing. firmation vote that could
Schumer, D-N.Y., who plans In this Aug. 1, 2018 file photo, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., joins protesters come by Oct. 1, Schumer’s
to meet Kavanaugh pri- objecting to President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh at a rally Capitol subtext for senators back-
vately early this week, is in Washington. ing Kavanaugh is: Beware.
methodically building argu- Associated Press “Those documents will
ments that would help vul- tion of the Democratic haven’t declared their po- in a brief interview when come out eventually and
nerable Democratic sena- debate over how ideologi- sitions. asked about liberals’ com- senators will really have
tors in Trump-loving states cally pure and confronta- “It undermines our efforts plaints about his efforts. egg on their faces if they
vote “no,” while avoiding tional the party’s strategies when members of the pub- Abortion rights, environ- voted for someone without
explicitly pressing them. and candidates should be lic don’t see their elected mental and other liberal knowing what was in their
But the party’s restive left in resisting Trump and his leaders in Congress react- groups applaud Schumer’s record,” said Kristine Lu-
wing says he’s not aggres- hard-right stances. That ing with more fury,” said Bri- measured tactics, which cius, a vice president of the
sively rallying Democratic battle has played out in an Fallon, a former Schum- have included Senate Leadership Conference on
lawmakers to oppose the Democratic congressio- er aide now heading De- speeches and news con- Civil and Human Rights.
nominee, thwarting the nal primaries around the mand Justice, a Democrat- ferences and frequent Mindful of November elec-
momentum needed to gal- country and in Congress, ic-aligned liberal group try- conference calls with out- tions in which Democrats
vanize voters and maybe where left-wing lawmakers ing to sink the nomination. side organizations. have an outside chance of
even win the uphill fight to are pushing proposals like Fallon said there is “urgent Schumer’s focus on Kava- grabbing Senate control,
block Kavanaugh. universal health care that need for Democrats to naugh’s perceived threat Schumer seems to be giv-
“It’s really a test for Schum- other Democrats shun. unite quickly against Kava- to abortion rights is aimed ing his red-state senators
er,” said Elizabeth Beavers, Democrats agree that Ka- naugh in order to shift the at pressing moderate space to back Kavanaugh
associate policy director vanaugh’s confirmation dynamic here.” GOP Sens. Susan Collins of if Republicans assure his
of Indivisible, an anti-Trump would tip the nine-member Republicans have a 50-49 Maine and Alaska’s Lisa confirmation by remaining
group. “Is he going to be court to the right, threaten- Senate edge, excluding Murkowski. Talking about united. It also makes sense
the minority leader who lost ing abortion rights, former the absent and ailing Ari- health care provides am- because with moderates
Roe?” Roe v. Wade is the President Barack Obama’s zona Republican John Mc- munition to Democratic always trying to show their
1973 Supreme Court deci- health care law and con- Cain, so Democrats alone senators from GOP-leaning independence, “If the
sion that established abor- stitutional constraints on can’t stop a united GOP. states, where the benefits leadership tried to twist the
tion rights. Trump’s actions as presi- Schumer’s hopes of defeat- of Obama’s health law are arms of redder state sena-
”We’re looking to Sen. dent. ing Kavanaugh lie in un- often popular. tors, it would backfire,” said
Schumer to unite the Dem- Even so, the votes of three earthing game-changing “What really matters is not Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
ocratic caucus to fight Ka- moderate Democratic revelations in documents so much what happens in Even so, liberals say Schum-
vanaugh,” said Ben Wikler, senators facing difficult re- from his earlier White House Washington but what con- er is not living up to his
Washington director of the election races seem up for and judicial jobs, or creat- stituents think in Indiana, promise in July to oppose
activist MoveOn.org. He grabs: Indiana’s Joe Don- ing an irresistible ground- West Virginia and North Da- Kavanaugh “with every-
said unless leaders unify the nelly, West Virginian Joe swell against him among kota when they realize Ka- thing I’ve got.”
party and raise the battle’s Manchin and Heidi Heit- constituents of moderate vanaugh would take away “It’s pretty reprehensible
visibility, the news media kamp of North Dakota. A Republicans and vacillat- their health care,” said Nan that they haven’t voiced
will focus on Trump nem- few other Democrats are ing Democrats. Aron, president of the liber- their opposition to Ka-
eses like fired White House seen as uncertain, from “Our job is to convince the al Alliance for Justice. vanaugh already,” said
aide Omarosa Manigault Alabama and Florida, for American people he will Liberal activists are ada- Shaunna Thomas, execu-
Newman and lawyer Mi- example, while about 20 undo women’s reproduc- mant that Kavanaugh tive director of Ultraviolet, a
chael Avenatti. who are considered cer- tive freedom and undo would be a vote against liberal women’s advocacy
It’s the latest manifesta- tain to oppose Kavanaugh health care,” Schumer said “Obamacare” on the group.q