Court group targets Sununu

People for the American Way will begin airing a radio ad next week that targets U.S. Sen. John Sununu's (R-Waterville Valley) support of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.

The ad will highlight Justice Alito's majority opinion in the case Ledbetter v. Goodyear. The case involved a female worker who was paid less than male coworkers. The Court ruled 5-4 against Lilly Ledbetter.

"For years, Lilly Ledbetter was paid far less than the men in her factory for doing the same work - and she proved it in court," the ad says. "But the company appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and a new Justice nominated by George W. Bush and supported by New Hampshire Senator John Sununu wrote the opinion that denied her equal pay. Tell John Sununu we need judges who will protect workers - not take our rights away."

People for the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert said the group is hoping to "shed a light" on Sununu's support of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito.

"We're here to shed a light on Lilly Ledbetter and John Sununu's support ultra-conservative justices on the Supreme Court," People for the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert said in an interview with PolitickerNH.com. "He supported both Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito and the kinds of positions that the Court is making, and the kind a future court is likely to make, are harmful to America and we certainly want to make sure the people of New Hampshire understands Sununu's position on this."

The group has run similar ads in Minnesota against U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman and in Maine against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.