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Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm David Alan Bragdon to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

I will vote in opposition to Mr. Bragdon's confirmation to a lifetime appointment on the Federal bench.

While in college, Mr. Bragdon ran a personal website, whose homepage was titled, ``DAVID BRAGDON'S RADICAL Conservative, Republican, Libertarian Home page.'' He took it upon himself to share his views on a host of issues, and these views gravely concern me. Mr. Bragdon wrote that seeking an abortion is the ``wrong decision'' and it is due to ``the woman's poor judgment.'' Even more disturbing, he said that a woman ``must face the consequenses [sic]'' if she does not use birth control. Mr. Bragdon also argued that welfare caused immorality and encouraged drugs and crime. He also contended that children of welfare recipients are more likely to drop out of school, end up in prison, and have children out of wedlock.

I recognize that nominees often write things in college that no longer reflect their views today. But when I asked Mr. Bragdon about the views he expressed on his website, he refused to disavow his prior writings.

For these reasons, I will oppose Mr. Bragdon's nomination, and I urge my colleagues to join me.

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