Ed Gillespie: ‘Roberts Applies the Law, Doesn’t Make It’

CBN.com – Ed Gillespie is the White House adviser for John Roberts. He’s the man who is helping shepherd Roberts through the confirmation process on Capitol Hill. Here are some of his comments about Roberts.

DAVID BRODY: How did Roberts prepare for the hearings?

ED GILLESPIE: There wasn't much preparation in terms of case reviews and things like that although there was some of that. I was someone who worked on Capitol Hill for a long time and has an understanding about the process. It was mostly about that and just in terms of addressing the senators and how to best do that and how to respond. It was all style in that regard and understanding the process. but I'll tell you, Someone said ‘well, did you coach him?’ and I just laughed and said ‘that's like asking somebody if you can coach Michael Jordan on his jump shot. You just can't. he's a natural talent.’"

BRODY: So, he did it all off the top of his head?

GILLESPIE: He had a little notepad and pencil next to him that was on the table, and he never once picked it up. I mean he did it all extemporaneous.

BRODY: Do you feel that the Democrats are going to give him a fair shot or do you feel that the liberal interest groups here are pretty much running the day here?

GILLESPIE: Well, there's incredible pressure on them from their extreme liberal interest groups. If you walk out into the hall, there would be People for the American Way, Moveon.org, and the National Abortion Rights Action League, and the National organization for Women, and every radical left group in the country out there putting pressure through the media on the senators. And I'm sure directly on those Democratic senators as well but I think as they listen to Judge Roberts, I am optimistic that they may vote for him based on his qualifications.

BRODY: What about this idea that Senator Brownback's and others, the conservatives, would like to see some judge that is nominated in the future by the President have more of a track record on Roe v. Wade and possibly overturning it?

GILLESPIE: Well, if you look at Judge Roberts’s comments, it was clear throughout the process of the hearings that he is one who applies the law as it is written in the Constitution and by legislatures, not one, an activist judge who'll make laws based on his own personal opinion. I think it was great to hear someone say that it's not my job as a judge to impose my personal viewpoint and make policies. I think the President has made good on his promise in terms of his last two campaigns to nominate someone who applies the law, doesn't make new laws and someone in the mold of Justice Thomas and Justice Scalia.

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