Washington, DC – NARAL Pro-Choice America, the nation’s leading advocate for personal privacy and a woman’s right to choose, expressed hope that this morning's meeting between President Bush and U.S. Senators would not be the full extent of consultation by the White House. According to news reports, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) attended a breakfast meeting at the White House during which they discussed the upcoming Supreme Court nomination.

“Polite conversation is wonderful, but meaningful consultation means a willingness to find genuine common ground and a consensus nominee. President Bush needs to do more than smile and nod. He needs to show respect for the majority of Americans who want the Supreme Court to protect personal freedoms like the right to privacy and a woman's right to choose,” said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Keenan also spoke to the need for nominees to answer honest questions from the Senate about their Constitutional philosophy. “Americans expect straight talk from our elected officials, and we’ll accept nothing less from nominees to the highest court in the nation. Supreme Court nominees have a responsibility to provide direct answers to simple questions about basic constitutional principles like upholding Roe v. Wade. ”

According to a poll conducted earlier this year, voters believe by a margin of 68-27% that “the next person nominated to the Supreme Court should have to publicly state his or her position on Roe vs. Wade?” The poll, conducted by The Mellman Group, surveyed 1000 likely voters nationwide in January, 2005. Margin of error is +/- 3.1%