Posted on 11/06/2004 8:45:55 PM PST by vannrox
1:00 a.m. Eastern
I have often asserted that, for the pro-life movement, the only practical distinction between the Democrat and Republican parties is that one is an enemy who will stab us in the chest and the other is a friend who will stab us in the back.
Tuesday's Republican primary in Pennsylvania proved my point. Hard-core abortion enthusiast Republican Arlen Specter was being challenged by pro-lifer Pat Toomey for the U.S. Senate. As the incumbent, Specter was predicted to win easily. But as Election Day approached, the polls clearly showed that Toomey was closing in fast and had a legitimate shot to pull off an upset.
That's when the GOP's power brokers pulled out the heavy guns. President George W. Bush personally rushed to Pennsylvania and implored Republicans to get behind the candidacy of ... Arlen Specter. Equally amazing, Pennsylvania's other senator, Rick Santorum, also chose to walk away from his long-espoused pro-life principles. He joined Bush on the campaign trail and urged voters to defeat the pro-life challenger.
The fact that Specter's eventual margin of victory was so razor-thin made one thing absolutely undeniable. Without the influence and treachery of Bush and Santorum, we would have seen a raging pro-abort who has always been viciously hostile toward anything that the pro-life movement does replaced with a pro-lifer. It is laughable to suggest that the combined efforts of a Republican president and a Republican senator can't influence even 2 percent of the votes in a Republican primary. Given that, it is simply a fact that Bush and Santorum cost the pro-life movement this election.
One of the things that made this particular election so crucial for the pro-life movement is that, if re-elected, Specter's seniority will give him the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Pro-lifers often say that we must support the Republicans and George Bush because of Supreme Court appointments. However, that is now a dead issue given that no pro-life nominee to the Supreme Court is going to get past Specter.
If George Bush didn't know this when he used his influence to get Specter re-elected, then he really is as stupid as the Democrats say he is.
But of course, Bush is not stupid. He knew that by insuring Specter's victory he was ending any chance of putting a pro-lifer on the Supreme Court. That may not have been his goal; it was simply the price he was willing to pay to support an incumbent Republican.
Moreover, Specter's term is six years, which means that even if Bush wins in November, Specter will be in place for Bush's entire second term and beyond. With that reality in place, the practical difference between who John Kerry might get confirmed to the Supreme Court and who Bush might get confirmed becomes zero.
Bush and Santorum defenders will claim that if Toomey had won he might turn around and lose in the general election and, thereby, turn control of the Senate over to the Democrats.
That's garbage. First, upon what do these people base the assumption that Toomey could somehow beat the senior incumbent United States senator in his state, but then not be able to beat a non-incumbent Democrat? If their claim is that Toomey's advocacy for the right-to-life makes him unelectable in a Pennsylvania general election, how do they explain Santorum's election?
Second, from a pro-life perspective, who cares if the Democrats win if the alternative is a pro-abortion Republican? Are we supposed to believe that the unborn are better off with their fate is in the hands of pro-abortion Republicans than pro-abortion Democrats?
Third, what happened to principle? Regardless of political considerations, if Bush and Santorum were more than just rhetorically committed to the pro-life cause they would have never come to the aid of a pro-abortion candidate who was about to lose to a pro-life one. In fact, when they saw that Toomey actually had a chance, their response should have been to do what they could to secure the victory not work against it.
While we're on the subject of principle, there are going to be those who try to dismiss what these two did by regurgitating that old chin drivel about abortion being just one issue, and the GOP has to look at "other issues" as well. It's the same old worn-out "no litmus test" nonsense that we hear ad nauseam.
I'm always curious about this particular argument. I wonder whether the people who make it are willing to apply it across the board, or if it's just a convenient way to dodge the abortion issue. For example, if it were discovered that Specter was secretly a member of the Ku Klux Klan, would that be a litmus test? Would Bush and Santorum still campaign for him saying that they disagreed with him on this one issue but that they have to look at all these "other issues" as well?
I think not, and that points out the abysmal dishonesty of what they did in Pennsylvania. If a Republican candidate was a Klansman who openly espoused racism, neither of these guys would be caught in the same county with him. You can also bet that this Klansman's position on "other issues" would never even come up.
So despite all their beautiful rhetoric about the humanity of the unborn child, the fact that they will also work to elect politicians who say unborn children should be legally butchered by the millions speaks much louder. Their message is that when the subject is racism nothing else matters, but when the subject is baby killing there are "other issues" to consider. If you believe those are the actions of people who are truly committed to the pro-life cause, then you are in desperate need of a reality check.
In the final analysis, the Bush/Santorum betrayal was obviously the result of party politics. These guys sold the unborn down the river for political reasons, and they felt comfortable doing so primarily because the pro-life movement has always let them get away with it. For 30 years we have shown the Republican Party that whatever they do we'll stick with them, and as long as we keep sending that message we are fools to think they will ever change.
That is the bottom line, and while the American pro-life establishment is so enamored with having a seat at the Republican table that they will never say this, I will:
Through their participation in The Pennsylvania Treason, the Republican Party, George Bush and Rick Santorum have lost the right to ever again ask for the support of pro-lifers.
By the way, in a speech he gave to a Catholic prayer breakfast less than a week after the election, Rick Santorum told the audience that they should "... get closer to God to hear what He wants done ... God speaks in whispers and you will not know His will unless you are close (to Him). He is calling, let me assure you, He is calling."
Apparently, Santorum believes that God called him to work for baby killers.
I'm skeptical.
Mark Crutcher is president of Life Dynamics Incorporated of Denton, Texas.
Hum. and BUMP. and Grumble...
Thanks Specter We can't even enjoy the win or the idiot media loosing it. Go away man and leave us alone.
He's right, of course. Every TRUE pro-lifer was totally shocked when we saw, not only Bush, but Santorum there in support of Specter.
The job now is to stop Specter from being Chairman of the Judiciary. All efforts need to go into this.
(But thousands of us will never understand the actions of especially Santorum in supporting Specter. He lost a lot of respect among pro-lifers for doing it.)
This is a great article--someone brave enough to say it.
I believe as much heat as possible must be brought to bare on Specter.
He MUST understand that his grandstanding and unprincipled life is now open to the Red States and if he continues to make Liberal decisions the outcry from us will only grow.
Their is not a single seat within the Senate more important to the Conservative agenda being enforced over the next few decades than the Chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
It is the judiciary that enforces the US Constitution. It is through this committee that individuals are moved to judicial positions...positions that oversee all of this countries legal bodies.
No amount of blowback in making sure he does not get the seat can compare to the damage this Liberal can do from that position.
He CANNOT be allowed to chair this committee.
And if he lashes out and cannot humbly submit himself to the will of the Senate leadership then he is not the kind of Man we want to support in the first place.
If anything else...this should humble him. when all is said and done, I would rather he not get the chair.
"WE" [Not the Libs] we removed Lott for being an idiot and we can make sure this other putz does not interfere with what we want to accomplish.
Honestly, I'd rather dump him outright, pull his credentials and send him over to the Democratic side of the aisle...but I'm not a rational person when it comes to dealing with leftover hippie generation rejects/traitors.
We will see what ends up happening but the heat must remain on him.
Priority 1: Remove Specter from the Judiciary (Day 4)
11-6-04 | Always Right
Posted on 11/06/2004 8:11:17 AM EST by Always Right
Update:
Under the current rules, the way to go about preventing Specter from becoming the Chairman of the Judiciary is to have someone CHALLENGE Specter for the Chair. Hatch is term-limited and can't continue. Grassley is very unlikely to give up his Chair of Finance Committee. Senator Jon Kyl is next in line and seems to be the best candidate. This is where we need to concentrate on, getting someone to CHALLENGE Specter for the Chairman's role. We need to contact Senator Kyl to see his willingness and also contact other Senators to support Kyl in making a CHALLENGE.
Focus: Drafting Jon Kyl as Chairman - E-mail, fax, phone all GOP Senators!
I believe all this is decided when the GOP caucuses. But we still lack information on this. I have conflicting reports, they caucus next week, they caucus in the next two weeks. I believe the Senate is in recess until November 16th, but it is possible the GOP caucus in before then. We need understand the process more if we want to impact it.
Keep up the Good Work: We are being heard!
Watch out for Specter: Specter knows he is in trouble. Specter is going on the talk show circuit to make his case. Don't buy into his BS. Specter will point out that he has supported Bush's nominees. He voted for Thomas. He voted for Scalia. Of course, so did Senator Kerry and 96 other Senators. Like Senator Kerry, Specter wants to maintain the liberal balance on the court. They will only support a conservative judge if it does not threaten Roe v. Wade. Senator Specter says he doesn't have a litmus test. But just ask Specter what he would do if the court were divided 5-4 on abortion. I am 100% convinced Specter would pull out any and all stops to make sure a pro-abortion judge is appointed. The more I learn about Specter, the more I see that protecting Roe v. Wade is his number one priority. This is why Specter will do and say ANYTHING to get the Judiciary Chairman assignment. Specter is a snake, when he goes to pat you on the back watch out for the knife in his hand. Specter flat out hates social conservatives and 'strict constructionist' judges. Specter is a 'living document' guy.
Our Resolve:
Whereas, liberal Senator Arlen Specter is in line to be Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Whereas, liberal Arlen Specter has a stated litmus test against pro-abortion judges.
Whereas, liberal Arlen Specter has stated he will fight against conservative judges
Whereas, in the past liberal Arlen Specter has helped defeat great judges like Robert Bork,
Whereas, the Democrats have loaded the Judiciary Committee with extreme liberals such as Kennedy, Feinstein, Leahy, and Schumer.
Whereas, liberal Arlen Specter is in a position to turn our huge and historic election victory into a defeat by killing the nomination of all decent judges,
Be it resolved, that we will do whatever it takes to get liberal Arlen Specter off the Judiciary Committee
Allies:
Laura Ingram
National Right to Life Committee
NRO - The Corner
Confused Conservatives:
Hugh Hewitt
Contact Information:
Bill Frist: E-mail: senator.frist@senate.gov
461 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
PHONE: (202) 224-3344
Web Form (Email his office): http://www.frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm
Contact Information for all Senators
Sen. Orrin Hatch, UT, current Committee Chair PH: 202-224-5251 FX: 202-224-6331
Sen. Jon Kyl, AZ PH: 202-224-4521 FX: 202-224-2207
Sen. John Cornyn, TX PH: 202-224-2934 FX: 202-228-2856
Sen. Charles Grassley, IA PH: 202-224-3744 FX: 319-363-7179
Sen. Mike DeWine, OH PH: 202-224-2315 FX: 202-224-6519
Sen. Jeff Sessions, AL PH: 202-224-4124 FX: 202-224-3149
Sen. Lindsey Graham, SC PH: 202-224-5972 FX: 202-224-3808
Sen. Larry Craig, ID PH: 202-224-2752 FX: 202-228-1067
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, GA PH: 202-224-3521 FX: 202-224-0103
Media Contacts:
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What does this say about Senator Specter?
| ACU Ratings for Senator Specter: | |
| Year 2003 | 65 |
| Year 2002 | 50 |
| Lifetime | 43 |
The treason of Santorum and Bush? This is getting ridiculous.
Scottish law bump.
Plus, of course, Bush would have won Pennsylvania.
Specter the Defector !!!!!!!
I think Spector created a deliberate distraction from this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2609760&mesg_id=2609760
He has had himself riding a motorcycle to start many of his earlier pro-life VHS series.
Kind of an odd ball, but does good work.
I think the prevailing wind was that Pat Toomey would not be able to get past the Pro-Abortion Democrat in the General Election.
So it was considered a better bet to have a pro-abortion Republican than a pro-abortion Democrat in the Senate.
[The control of the Senate was supposed to rely on a few races, but the Republican won all the close races.]
Just think about the stress of a Supreme Court Justice nominee would have on him.
So Specter goes elsewhere -- but Senate rules are bent so he can remain as chairman of the Veterans Committee -- a reminder that his is a Veteran of the Senate but not a major leaguer...
In my perfect world, Thune of South Dakota takes his place.
It is kind of important -- it reminds the Democrats about the loss of their leader by focusing on the Judiciary Committee.
But then Karl Rove is not an intelligent person. He could never come up with such a clever idea...
Right, exaclty. I have not yet seen anyone who cared to point out that Toomey would most likely have lost to the democract and we would have one less Senate seat.
So if it is treason to support a candidate who can win, the so be it.
Mark Crutcher is an idiot. He now advocates that pro life people either sit on their hands and stay home and let the democrats win, or go off and vote for some obscure party that doesn't have a chance in the world of winning anything and results in the democrats winning.
I think this moron is a democrat mole or he needs 20 more IQ points to be eligible for a table wiping job at Micky D's.
Congressman Toomy had a good chance of winning the primary, but he would have lost miserably in the general.
The socialist POS Hoeffle, barely ran a campaign in western Pa. He was limited by a lack of funds. If the Pa senate seat was in play, the democrat party would have spent like a drunken sailor on Hoeffle's campaign.
President Bush spent tons of money here in Pa and made Pa a constant stop in his re-election bid and still lost.
Spector, for all his faults will at least work with us 70% of the time. If president Bush uses a little muscle maybe Spector will work 90% of the time.
Look at the bright side. Spector is 74 years old and there is a good chance he will assume room temperature soon. We should be working to get rid of "Fast Eddie" Rendel who comes up for re-election in 2 years so that when "Snarlin Arlen" shuffles off this mortal plane we have a Republican governor to appoint his successor.
Spector's rating is 65%. What is Hoeffle's?
Specter is Bushs man, now listen to Bush whine when the judges get nowhere. All we have heard from Bush is that he has to win and have control of congress. OKAY..You have that, now show us results, no whining about those horrible democrats.
For me...that is the signal from the White House to let him be.
I can only deduce that they've made some quid pro quo deals concerning Specter's election and W's nominees.
I'll now hold my fire. Once we merge with the enemy on the nominees I'll watch for Specter's activity. If at that point he gets in the way, the White House will turn on him and I'll get back to going after him.
For now it is clear, the White House will obliquely support him...therefore I cease fire.
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