Granted, the Alito hearings have been a little on the dull side from the very beginning. But this afternoon offered something a little different: a meaningful, heated conflict.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the hearings touched on Alito’s membership in the controversial Concerned Alumni of Princeton, a group formed in 1972 to oppose the admission of women to Princeton, which also criticized the school’s minority admissions, “permissive social norms,” and nondenominational religious services. Yesterday, Alito, who touted his membership in the organization in 1985<\/a>, said he no longer remembers<\/a> being associated with the group.<\/p>\n Today, Sen. Ted Kennedy said he wasn’t buying Alito’s explanation and wanted more information. In fact, Kennedy suggested the Judiciary Committee go into executive session and consider subpoenas for documents relating to Alito’s membership in CAP. Specter was livid, saying Kennedy should have brought this to him directly before the hearings. Kennedy said he sent Specter a letter two weeks ago on this very issue, though Specter claimed he never saw such a request. It got pretty heated<\/a>.<\/p>\n “If you’re going to rule it [a subpoena] out of order, I want to have a vote on that,” Kennedy said.<\/p>\n “I take umbrage at you telling me what I received,” Specter said, with growing anger.<\/p>\n Kennedy: “I would appeal the ruling of the chair.”<\/p>\n Specter: “There’s been no ruling of the chair.”<\/p>\n Kennedy says he’s moving for an executive session and “we’re gonna have votes of this commlittee again and again and again” until Specter goes along.<\/p>\n Specter: “I’m not going to have you run this committee,” Specter said. “I will consider it in due course.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Think Progress has a video clip<\/a>; it was more intense than the transcript suggests.<\/p>\n