"John Roberts is now being defined.

The Republicans -- in the words of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter -- say he's the 'non-activist judge, which everyone is looking for.'

Senate Democrats, on the other hand, are as cautious as Roberts' own record. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut called Roberts 'a credible nominee, and not one that -- as far as we know now -- has a record that in any sense could be described as extremist.'

He's not an extremist. Nor is he an activist judge. These are the words that will inundate our political discourse over the next month or so.

Both of these labels conceal the unsettled abortion debate."

Get the Story:
Mark Trahant: Labels hide unsettled abortion debate (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 7/24)

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