Posted on 02/24/2012 2:14:45 PM PST by mnehring
On Friday’s broadcast of Laura Ingraham’s radio show, Rick Santorum defended his claim that his endorsement of moderate Sen. Arlen Specter in 2004 stemmed from a conversation the two had about supporting President Bush’s Supreme Court nominees.
Specter had appeared on MSNBC earlier in the day and denied that he and Santorum had discussed Bush’s nominees prior to the 2004 election.
“We never had any such conversation,” Specter told the network’s Chuck Todd. “It would be improper to make a commitment on a vote before I knew who the nominee was and whether I thought the nominee was qualified. I’ve got a very strong reputation and a record behind that did not make deals like that.”
Santorum, however, told Ingraham that wasn’t the case and cited the confirmations of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Samuel Alito as proof.
“I would just say in response to that: Roberts and Alito,” Santorum said. “You look at Arlen Specter and what he did to fight and fight and claw, particularly for Alito at everything that was brought up. He knocked it down. He carried the water and carried I might add brilliantly and stood up and did exactly what he said he would do as chairman of the committee as long as he was consulted, stand up and fight for the president’s nominees.”
Santorum said that the conversation took place toward the end of Specter’s race in 2004 against conservative challenger Pat Toomey, who won election to the Senate in 2010.
“We actually had that conversation at the end of his campaign, when he asked me to go out and do an ad to help him,” Santorum said. “’Arlen,’ I said. ‘I need assurances that you know, if you win this election, you’re going to stand up and fight as chairman of the committee. That is an absolute, you know — to me the thing I have to have assurances on before I get out and say anything publicly on television or radio about you.’ And he said, ‘As long as I’m consulted as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. That’s my responsibility as chairman of the committee to do that.’ That’s what he said.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/24/santorum-rips-ron-paul-for-romney-alliance-denies-specters-claim-of-no-deal/#ixzz1nL95VZG5
Write in your diary. Not a grown up nor leader in my opinion.(in more ways than one)
It appears that Rick was trying to get Specter to promise not to flip on conservatives - again. Santorum knew that Specter was in a much better position to help seat a Justice but was probably unsure. Rick's more trusting than me though because I wouldn't have believe Arlen in any case.
Even if Romney/Paul haven’t colluded and it looks like they have, Paul probably thought Romney would be the leader and wouldn’t attack him in hopes of being VP.
If they have colluded, then Paul might have a promise of VP.
And it would be interesting to know if such a deal existed and whether Romney actually honors the deal.
But I don’t think Paul as VP would help Romney’s ticket. Paul might bring some pothead votes that would otherwise go to Obama, but he would probably lose just as many votes, as he brought.
I disagree.. I think Newt has BOTH of those qualities.
Newt is also the only candidate that has turned off almost all women except you.
Newt may very well be the most effective candidate out there, but I think Santorum is the better values driven candidate. I hope Santorum uses Gingrich in his administration.
I don’t like Gingrich at all but think he would be a spectacular choice for VP because one of the main duties of a VP is to prod congress to act.
We’re being played.
I think Ron is setting it up for Rand as VP if we nominate the liberal, Willard.
And then Rand runs in 2016 for president as a Next in Line/Tea Party guy (after Obama finishes up eight disastrous years.)
It appears you believe the deal is for Rep.Ron Paul to be Romney’s veep; correct?
Actually, the rumor is Sen.Rand Paul would be Romney’s running mate for veep.
At least, that is the rumor.
AND I do not like nor respect Santorum who with Lott 'saved' the Clintons presidency by killing the impeachment proceedings against old gutter snipe Clinton. At least Newt made sure the IMPEACHMENT took place. Any body paying attention during the Clintons presidency know there was/is NO difference between the Clintons/algore and the BamBamKennedy presidency.... Same people in positions of power to destroy US.
LOL
Santorum was apparently the most powerful man in the senate. A regular old evil doer.
“When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think [confirmation] is unlikely. The president is well aware of what happened, when a number of his nominees were sent up, with the filibuster. ... And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning.”
Arlen Specter circa 2004
Alito for O’connor was huge. This is the guy who borked Bork.
FReegards
According to Judge Rogan he was indeed a 'team' player for the other side. There certainly was NO courage in him back then. Wonder how a baby junior senator would overnight make it to a leadership position to be assisting good old cheerleader Trent Lott.
Yeah whatever. LOL
I think Rush or Levin or one of those implied it might be Rand Paul as VP for the payoff. Makes more sense as Ron would defeat the ticket.
Rand Paul at least appears rational if you don’t look too close. However I haven’t forgotten him skipping Bibi’s address to congress.
Exactly. I know what the word 'whatever' literally means. You have just outed yourself for NOT being interested in truth but in a willingness to accept the PROUD GOP status quo.... Good luck. Maybe you might check out the book Judge Rogan, one of the HOUSE managers who had to deal with the tricky Ricky when it came to the Senate impeachment proceedings. Old Ricky refused to allow live witnesses and literal evidence.... So here we are all these years later dealing with the same Clinton bs that could have been removed from US had we had people who respected that oath they took. Team players to protect their own self serving political careers.... right LOL!!!!!
Gingrich ‘Deeply Upset’ That Scozzafava Endorsed Democrat After He’d Supported Her (ROFL)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2376848/posts
Newt: “I am, however, deeply dissapointed that she has chosen to back Owens over Hoffman.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2376172/posts
Jarrett: Dems want Scozzafava nod (Newt? Newt?)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375959/posts
Right To Work Prez Calls Out Newt’s Hypocrisy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2375483/posts
Group Calls on Gingrich to Rescind Endorsement of Scozzafava
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374566/posts
Who Lied to (RINO) Newt Gingrich?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373633/posts
Newt Gingrich - “King of the RINOs”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373107/posts
Gingrich: A Vote for Hoffman Is a Vote for Pelosi
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2373068/posts
Farewell To GOP’s Squishy Gingrich Wing
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2372160/posts
Are you kidding me?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2372078/posts
Gingrich calls GOP support for Hoffman a ‘purge’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371959/posts
Newt on Greta talking about Scozzafava
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371587/posts
Newt Gingrich: Doug Hoffman support a ‘mistake’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371188/posts
http://www.newt.org/answers#Dede
Dede Scozzafava Endorsement
Newt has admitted it was a mistake to back Dede Scozzafava, the Republican nominee in the 2009 NY-23 special election.
Whether it was helping to build the Republican Party of Georgia back when Democrats controlled the entire state or leading the nationwide effort in 1994 to break 40 years of Democratic rule in the House, Newt has always tried to advance the cause of a truly conservative Republican party. This has always meant supporting the most conservative nominee possible as selected by Republican primary voters.
Therefore, Newt will almost always back the nominee of the Republican party and not back an independent candidate in a race against a Democratic candidate.
Newt still believes in this principle, however, he has admitted it was a mistake to back Dede Scozzafava, the Republican nominee in the 2009 NY-23 special election. Although she was the Republican nominee, the problem was that Republican primary voters did not pick her, the local party leaders did, otherwise her liberal views would have prevented her from becoming the nominee. The Conservative Party candidate whom Scozzafava was running against, Doug Hoffman, recently remarked about Newt’s endorsement of his rival, “I would advise other conservative republicans: Don’t hold this against him.”
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