The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines Tuesday to send Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito to the full Senate for confirmation.

And the American people seem to agree with the committee's recommendation. In a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released on Monday, 54 percent of respondents said they supported Alito's confirmation. But opponents have attacked Alito for not giving specific answers to questions during the hearings and for previous actions suggesting possible interest in overturning Roe v. Wade.

If liberals are interested in addressing the lack of answers Alito gave to the committee, then they must also take into consideration the similar actions of both of President Clinton's nominees, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer -- neither of whom were particularly forthcoming with information during their hearings.

In the time since his Oct. 31 nomination by President Bush, liberals have dubbed him names such as "Scalito" and "Scalia Lite," making reference to the perceived ideological similarities between Alito and Justice Antonin Scalia.

While it is understandable that liberals are concerned that Alito may hinder their political agenda, the function of the Supreme Court is to render decisions on cases that come before it, not to further a specific agenda.

A cloud of political issues should not surround the nomination process. Those serving on the Supreme Court should have an understanding of the law, the Constitution and should care about the fair and impartial application of both.

Alito earned his bachelor's degree from Princeton University and attended Yale Law School where he also worked as an editor for the Yale Law Journal. He also served as a U.S. attorney for the district of New Jersey, and for 15 years prior to his nomination as a judge for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. In terms of qualifications, the president would have a difficult time finding someone with stronger legal credentials.

Politics aside, Alito is about as qualified as anyone else to fill the vacant seat on the court. While it may seem a bit idealistic to say Supreme Court nominations should not be politically motivated, it's the fundamental truth. If the people want American democracy to work the way it was intended, then there is no logical reason to oppose Alito's confirmation.