Mikaela asks:
Anyone satisfied by this exchange?
Senator Leahy seemed concerned about the judge's membership in the Concerned Alumni of Princeton University, an organization that the senator said had resisted the admission of women and members of minority groups to the elite Ivy League institution.
"Why in heaven's name, judge?" Mr. Leahy asked, seemingly incredulous that a man with Judge Alito's immigrant heritage and working-class background could have belonged to such a group.
The judge said that he had never active in the group's activities and that he had belonged chiefly because he disagreed with campus hostility to the Reserve Officers Training Corps in that Vietnam War era.
That back and forth afforded Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, a chance to serve up a friendly question. The senator asked the nominee whether he was against women and minority groups in college.
"Absolutely not, senator, no," the judge replied.
"Tough question, Orrin," Senator Leahy interjected with a chuckle. "Tough question."
"Good question, though," Mr. Hatch retorted.
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