In a conference call today, Ed Gillespie said that Democrats are raising the issue of Judge Sam Alito’s recusal decisions because they have no choice. They can’t challenge Alito’s qualifications, and they don’t want to argue with Alito’s judicial philosophy because they know they are on the wrong side of the issue. Media-wise, the Democrats have found friendly mouthpieces in the Boston Globe and Reuters. It looks like a baseless charge to me. The decision in favor of Vanguard in the case was unanimous. Then, after the plaintiff complained, Alito stepped aside and the case was taken up by a panel that also decided unanimously in favor of Vanguard. The Dems new strategy seems to be “Anything to avoid arguing the merits of the nominee.”

Meanwhile, Townhall’s Tim Chapman expressed concerns that Alito reportedly said that Roe v. Wade deserved “great respect.” Gillespie said, “We