[joanie-f]

I received the following e-mail from American Family Association this afternoon. It is not a very eloquent message, and I cannot verify the accuracy of its content, but I believe what they are claiming is a distinct possibility. And, if true, there is reason for grave concern (please read beyond the message):

____________________________________________

SENATOR SANTORUM THROWS HIS SUPPORT BEHIND SENATOR SPECTER, NEARLY ASSURING SPECTER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Dear Joanie,

It appears that the Senate will support Senator Specter as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee because Senator Rick Santorum has thrown his support to Senator Specter.

Here is what Roll Call said in a Nov. 8 article by Paul Kane: "As one GOP aide put it, Specter's ascension to the chairmanship appears a done deal 'if Santorum seems OK with it.'"

Senator Santorum needs to hear from you immediately. Ask him to stop his support for Senator Specter. Without Senator Santorum's support, the pro-abortion Senator Specter will have a difficult time becoming Chairman.

The direct line to Sen. Santorum's office is 202-224-6324. Please forward this to all your friends in PA and ask them to call.

We must not have a senator like Specter who will have a litmus test that allows only pro-choice nominees to be considered.

Thanks for calling and asking others to call.

Sincerely,

Don

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

______________________________________________

Rick Santorum is the third ranking Republican member of the senate, and Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference (which makes him leader of the election process for chairmanships). He is an influential man, whose endorsement has the power to make or break Specter’s bid for Judiciary chair.

I worked for Santorum’s first senatorial campaign back in 1994, doing much the same as I did for Pat Toomey this past April (phone calls, door-to-door campaigning, and speaking at local community/civic organizations). My husband and I attended what turned out to be his victory party at the Pittsburgh Hilton on election night 1994, when he scored his stunning, nail-biting upset victory against democrat incumbent Harris Wofford. I remember driving home from Pittsburgh in the wee hours of the next morning feeling euphoric in the belief that Pennsylvania had finally elected a young and visionary senator who would remain true to his conservative principles.

Rick Santorum betrayed those principles, and those of us who have counted on his allegiance to his conservative electorate, when he endorsed Arlen Specter in April’s Republican primary. Party politics took precedence. And, if the above warning from the American Family Association is to be taken seriously, he is about to do it again.

‘Betrayal’ is one of the most powerful words in human language. And ‘repeated betrayal’ is indelible … and irrevocable.

Even if you are not a resident of Pennsylvania … and even if you have already called Senator Frist and the nine Republican members of the Judiciary Committee … please call Rick Santorum’s office as well. Ask his office two simple questions:

(1) Do the standing rules of the senate require that a committee chairman be appointed on the basis of seniority?

(2) If not, does Senator Santorum believe that Arlen Specter, more than any other members of the Judiciary Committee, has proven his willingness to be fair and non-political, should he obtain such a position of power?

If the senator’s response to either question is ‘yes’, then not only we conservative Pennsylvanians, but all conservative Americans, have been betrayed by him yet again.

202-224-6324

~ joanie

[CharliefromKS]

Thank you, Joanie. I will call tomorrow.

[Cedar]

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping that even a betrayal by Sen. Santorum can be overcome, and Specter be stopped.

I'll be calling tomorrow too. I think it is especially important for PA citizens to call Santorum. Please let him know that what happened to Daschle can also happen to him.

This is warfare. It's time to get truly loyal conservatives in the government. Let's be serious and refuse our support for those who betray us.

[mickie]

Thanks Joanie, I'll call tomorrow, and I will also tell him "No More Money" if he screws us another time!

[Minuteman23]

‘Betrayal’ is one of the most powerful words in human language. And ‘repeated betrayal’ is indelible … and irrevocable.

Well said.

This is sad sad news indeed.

Being a Pennsylvanian, I've already called Santorum's office, but I'll be sending this post to friends and family and asking them to call too.

Thanks Joanie.

[aodell]

Who are we supposed to trust anymore? The list is getting shorter all the time.

I will call Santorum's office tomorrow and I will be telling everyone who will listen to call too.

Thank you Joanie, for all you do.

[ForGod'sSake]

I'm having difficulty keeping up with the players in this tag team "rasslin" match. There must be some serious arm twisting going on behind the scenes of this little drama.

"W" endorsing a RINO over a true conservative that had a bona fide shot at winning. The RINO attempts to sandbag his benefactor, but immediately starts crawfishing when he begins taking major hits from conservatives. And now another true(?) conservative endorses the same RINO. And from the White House we hear {{crickets chirping}}...

I dunno joanie. I wonder if Snarlin' Arlen has high resolution pics of everyone in D.C. at a group grope or something. If you happen to run across a progam, would you be kind enough to share?

FGS

[SiliconValleyGuy]

Am I allowed to ask him more than the two questions? ;) (I want to ask him if he expects to use a plaid litmus test in judge confirmations, or does Scottish law only apply in impeachment hearings.)

I'll be calling Santorum tomorrow. I heard a Fox News report tonight that said that the committee members are being swamped with calls. We'll see how much they listen to the people.

[WhatPriceFreedom?]

I'll be calling from work this morning. Thanks for the heads up, Joanie.

[Mr. Silverback]

Check post 109.

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[TakeChargeBob]

Sen Santorum is a reliable advocate. Understand he has to remain viable to continue in his seat. To have Sen Santorum seen as derailing Sen Specter could have unwanted repercussions. This is tactically stupid. In fact, even if specter were denied the chairmenship, Sen. Santorum should be seen as supporting him. Why put his seat in jeopardy?

When you use the word betrayal, you miss the point totally.
We need to be tactically smart. Along those lines, Freepers are doing the right thing by putting pressure on their senators. This will make the price easier to extract. In fact, not only could we extract something from Specter but perhaps from the other moderates. The key is to vote for the nuclear option. Make that a quid pro quo for keeping Specter. The senators can argue that their base is putting pressure on them to oust Specter and the only way to satisfy them is with the nuclear option. If this does not prevail then Specter could be denied the chairmanship with the rationale that the moderates had an opportunity to keep Specter but the base could not be molified with the status quo.

Joanie, I realize that I am addressing someone who has been right there on the scene. The issue is too important to let anger or frustration get the better of you. I fully appreciate how heartfelt that you feel. We need to focus on how to win the war. If Bush can get his judges through, I am totally satisfied. Obviously if the choice is simply a Specter chairmanship or not - I would say the hell with him. This decision however comes with a price. If ousting Specter results in having to compromise in a Supreme Court judge, we have lost the war.