Thursday, September 15, 2005

Sounds like an originalist to me II

How about this one?
GRAHAM: I know people don't like being labeled, Put me in that category. But I'm in a business where people label me all the time. But I ask for it, I run for office.

But we do tend in our business of politics to try to label people, particularly when we're talking about judges.

When the president introduced you to the United States, to the people of the United States, he said you were a strict constructionist. Do you know what he meant by that and why he chose to use those words?

ROBERTS: Well, I hope what he meant by that is somebody who is going to be faithful to the text of the Constitution, to the intent of those who drafted it, while appreciating that sometimes the phrases they used, they were drafting a Constitution for the ages, to secure the blessings of liberty for their posterity. They were looking ahead. And so they often used phrases that they intended to have...

(CROSSTALK)

GRAHAM: Does that term make you feel uncomfortable?

ROBERTS: No.
Still not convinced?