Alito opposed abortion rights in letter

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito wrote in 1985 he was proud to have worked on cases that argued there is no constitutional right to an abortion.

The Washington Times quoted from a letter that was part of Alito's application to join the staff of Attorney General Edwin Meese. In the letter Alito states he considered himself a conservative and supported the conservative view on many social issues.

An unnamed Republican, whom the Times said was involved in helping Alito through the confirmation process, said Alito's views from 20 years ago are not as important as the opinions he has written in 15 years on the U.S. Court of Appeals. However, the statements are sure to draw additional fire from the left, which has questioned whether Alito would target abortion rights.

Alito, as reported by the Times, said in the 1985 letter: "I am particularly proud of my contributions in recent cases in which the government has argued in the Supreme Court that racial and ethnic quotas should not be allowed and that the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion."