Dobson Warns GOP Senators on Specter

Human Events Online ^ | November 15, 2004 | Robert B. Bluey

[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

[Sir Gawain]

I'm not speaking for myself; I was under the impression that conservatives didn't have to be in a herd OR be told what to think.

That's good. So it's ok if someone has a different opinion than you. That's good to know. That's exactly the opposite to how you're acting on this thread.

[Howlin]

Dobson speaks for a lot more people than you do.

Well, so do Hugh Hewitt and Rush Limbaugh, but I don't see them issuing these kinds of statements.

[EternalVigilance]

Shut Up and Preach.

That is one of the most nonsensical statements imaginable...lol...

And besides, Dr. James Dobson is not a preacher.

He's a psychologist and pro-family activist.

He has as much right to petition his government and to make his views known to Americans as you do.

And millions of Americans pay attention, too.

Dobson is a very wise and honorable man...one of the finest in our country today.

[Joe Brower]

"Dobson is correct to fight Spectre's nomination, but the way he's doing it is an embarrassment."

What specific words and/or actions of Dobson make you say this?

[Howlin]

That's exactly the opposite to how you're acting on this thread

No, it isn't at all; I'm expression MY rights to disagree with his approach.

[EternalVigilance]

Well, if we don't matter then, what are y'all so excited about?

[PhilipFreneau]

>> Dobson shut the hell up... we'll take care of Arlen in our own way.

Who exactly comprises "our own way"? You sound like an elitist. James Dobson has been working very hard for conservative causes. Your wimpy voice will not silence him.

[Sir Gawain]

Dobson, who put you in charge?

I doubt you say the same thing when Ann Coulter has an opinion on something. Your disdain of evangelicals is seeping through.

[Howlin]

Well, if we don't matter then, what are y'all so excited about?

You are a master at mischaracterizing others words to prolong an argument.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

The members of the Senate judicial committee are:

 Orrin G. Hatch CHAIRMAN, UTAH

Patrick J. Leahy RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER, VERMONT

Charles E. Grassley IOWA

Edward M. Kennedy MASSACHUSETTS

Arlen Specter PENNSYLVANIA

Joseph R. Biden, Jr. DELAWARE

Jon Kyl ARIZONA

Herbert Kohl WISCONSIN

Mike DeWine OHIO

Dianne Feinstein CALIFORNIA

Jeff Sessions ALABAMA

Russell D. Feingold WISCONSIN

Lindsey Graham SOUTH CAROLINA

Charles E. Schumer NEW YORK

Larry Craig IDAHO

Richard J. Durbin ILLINOIS

Saxby Chambliss GEORGIA

John Edwards NORTH CAROLINA

John Cornyn TEXAS

Go get them tigers. Remember - be respectful and polite.  

[tallhappy]

Don't quite see how it's blackmail to say that we will remember their votes when we cast our votes, and will cast them accordingly.

Exactly. We vote for people based on what they do. It would be unfair not to tell them in advance.

These guys work for us.

[Taliesan]

Dobson thinks he has political capital and he is spending it. Good for him. That is the way it works. He has a constituency, and if he can mobilize it to remove Senators then there is certainly nothing wrong with doing it.

[agrace]

Let's not pretend this is the first "warning" coming from the religious right.

Not sure where that came from but you have a great afternoon.

[Howlin]

He's certainly free to have that opinion of himself; but let's not forget that other demographics voted BIGGER for Bush this time. I'll be waiting to see if everybody will greet their demands with the same joy.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Round Two!

[Joe Brower]

For years I have marveled at how so many good, God-fearing, salt-of-the-earth Americans have simply stood idle as the rabid left slowly, gleefully, has worked overtime to pull our nation apart at the seams. I've often asked, "What on Earth will it take for these people to finally rise to their feet and stand up for what they beleive"? Then we finally get a Christian leader who does exactly that and then there's all this pissing and moaning. It's incredible.

[NCPAC]

"And I don't like threats."

Ditto, and a hearty "Amen!"

For the record, I am opposed to Arlen Specter - period - but I have to wonder which Senators Dobson was referring to when he threatened revenge against Senators who renege on their promise to do the right thing.

Did any GOP Senator ever "promise" to vote against Specter (with that course of action being the "right thing")? If not, what/who exactly is Dobson talking about when he threatens those who break their "promise" to do the right thing?

Specter needs to be defeated, yes, but man - that Dobson needs to get over himself.

[EternalVigilance]

And one wonder if, since the Hispanics voted in greater numbers than Evangelicals did, you'll be quite so willing when the Hispanics "come calling" with their demands.

Any American can make any 'demand' they want.

Doesn't necessarily mean anyone is going to listen.

But I guarantee to you that Republican Senators are listening to pro-lifers right now.

I think the uprising against Specter, who has a long history of hostility to the core values of our Party, is on its way to dwarfing anything Washington has ever seen.

This isn't over yet. I'd recommend you learn some breathing exercises or something if you're this worked up against the vocal prolifers already...

[richmwill]

Will you? You don't seem very "happy" today.