Posted on 11/15/2004 1:04:53 PM PST by hinterlander
Republican senators who support Sen. Arlen Specter's bid to chair the Judiciary Committee could face retribution from disgruntled conservative and Christian voters, warned Dr. James Dobson in an interview Monday with HUMAN EVENTS.
Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family Action, a political group he organized to help re-elect President Bush, said Specter is frantically trying to save his spot atop the Judiciary Committee after suggesting Bush shouldn't bother nominating pro-life judges.
Specter has since distanced himself from his November 3 comments, but the protests against him haven't diminished. For the second straight weekend, he appeared on Sunday morning news programs trying to allay fears voiced by activists like Dobson.
"It may not be possible to derail Senator Specter," Dobson conceded to HUMAN EVENTS, "but if they [Republican senators] don't do that, I think it ought to be very clear that when the senator reneges on his promise to do the right thing, it's going to be remembered."
Republican senators on the Judiciary Committee are expected to meet with Specter this week, which will be followed by a secret vote taken in January to elect a chairman. Their offices have been inundated with phone calls protesting Specter's possible promotion.
GOP-imposed term limits are forcing Sen. Orrin Hatch (R.-Utah) to step down as the committee's chairman. Next in line is Sen. Chuck Grassley (R.-Iowa), who would rather lead the Finance Committee than Judiciary, leaving Specter with the most seniority.
"He's been out there for the last week on every show that would invite him," Dobson said of the Pennsylvania senator. "He's been trying to save his chairmanship by bobbing and weaving and telling us that he didn't mean what he said when he said what he meant."
Dobson has used his radio program, which reaches 7 million listeners per week, to rail against Specter's possible ascension. Other conservative and Christian interest groups are protesting as well, including a scheduled demonstration Tuesday at the office of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R.-Tenn.).
"We're certainly going to do everything we can to let people know that Senator Specter not only threatens the court, but he is also the champion of stem-cell research and he is opposed to protection of marriage within the Constitution," Dobson said. "This man is going to be in an extremely powerful position to oppose most of what President Bush was elected to do. That is irritating a large number of people."
Dobson said Specter owes his victory to Bush, who chose to campaign with him instead of his more conservative Republican primary opponent, Rep. Pat Toomey. Specter narrowly beat Toomey by a little more than 17,000 votes in the April primary.
"He was very clear about what his intentions are," Dobson said in reference to Specter's November 3 remarks. "It's not only the court, he stands in opposition to just about everything the President ran on in terms of the moral and social agenda. How arrogant is that?"
Robert B. Bluey is Assistant Editor for HUMAN EVENTS
I've seen Dr. Dobson (whom I respect enormously) several times on TV over the last week. My problem with what he is saying is the tone of his language. Instead of effectively saying, 'If the President doesn't get conservative judges approved, Christians won't show up at the polls,' a rhetorical question such as, 'What do you think Christians will do if, after providing key support in this election, the administration doesn't deliver on its promises: first, to nominate judges who will uphold the Constitution as written and second, to fight for their confirmation?'
You don't solicit support effectively by backing people into a corner.
I did not watch the interview. I merely read the post at the beginning of this thread. However, if what Dobson said is not a threat, what is it? And, again, who made what promise to do the "right thing" by voting against Specter? Dobson should just state his reasons for not wanting Specter - and let his followers (and the Senators) read between the lines as to what they should do.
I have never met Dr. Dobson, so I cannot speak for his humility - but he does come across as acrimonious (which I can deal with, acrimony being part of the blood supply of politics) and pompous (which I find somewhat disdainful, certainly for a man in his position.).
The key to understanding the misunderstanding is to imagine that President Bush made the exact same comments as Dr. Dobson. Then, it would obviously be viewed as God's honest truth that there will be backlash - but since it is only that crazy wacko right winger Dobson, it's a horrible threat, and untrue.
The hypocrisy is very thinly-veiled here.
And should even one of President Bush's nominees get derailed because of Specter's mischief, I am one evangelical-sympathizing right winger who won't forget it.
It's a free country. Dobson can say whatever he wants. And what exactly is "your own way" of "taking care" of Specter?
If you are a conservative, an evangelical, a Catholic, a pro-lifer of any sort, speak out now!!
And I'm talking about on this thread for starters! Don't leave a few to fight your battles for you!
Then make the calls and send your faxes to our elected officials!
If you remain silently lurking at this point in history, you should be ashamed!
This is the critical stage so many have worked for for so many years...
Speak UP!!!!
When Simpson was questioning Anthony Kennedy, he mentioned that it was terrible that Bork was rejected, but that he would have been confirmed if he had shown an ounce of compassion. Bork comes across as cold and humorless -- he was even that way on Hannity's show, when Sean kidded him about not listening to his show. So I don't hold Specter completely responsible for Bork's defeat -- but he definitely ended whatever chance he had of confirmation.
Specter did at least support Thomas and trash Anita Hill. Had he attacked Thomas, that nomination would have been lost.
I'm not happy that Specter will sit in the Chairman's seat, but it's probably unavoidable. I don't think he will use his power as chairman to block votes on nominees. He's voted to support the President and end filibusters. Also, he will strongly influence other Senators on judicial confirmation votes, and I'd rather have him in the tent p*ss*ng out than on the outside p*ss*ng in. If he does block votes, then we'll need to change his name to Senator Sphincter.
B.S.
James Dobson is one of the least pompous men on the planet.
You've never been to Washington, have you...
'Nuff said.
It STILL a threat. And it sucks, no matter WHO says it.
What has Dobson done to you that you would publically call to deprive him of his First Amendment Right?
According to the article he formed a committe to help ELECT President Bush.
You don't like President Bush?
Geez, you're quite the drama queen.
I love it because you actually believe that since you didn't TELL us to, none of us have "taken action."
And already handing out SHAME, I see. Can "hell fire and damnation" be far behind?
Everyone relax. This is a conservative fatwa, not a Christian fatwa of which Dobson speaks. He was simply using the forum he had to serve notice on Arlen Sphinter (I love that name) and the members of the judiciary committee that they need to rein him in. I believe they will. Dobson is not the enemy. Spincter is.
It's STILL the Truth.
If even one of Bush's nominees is derailed by Specter, there will be backlash against those who gave Specter the power to derail.
Don't come around here with FACTS now. :-)
If this isn't the time for 'drama', I don't know when that might be.
Must be the "we" that was going to turn Snarlin' out of office last election.
And the one before that.
And the one before that...
Pennsylvanians keep re-electing the b@stard - now it's up to the rest of the country to DO something about him!
Yeah, what is it with the distaste some people have around here for facts? Facts rule! This isn't CBS or the NY Times! We're better than that!
So can Dobson, Christians, Social Conservatives, etc.
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