Posted on 11/07/2004 8:31:32 PM PST by quantim
WASHINGTON (AP) — Insisting he has no litmus test, the Republican in line to head the Senate Judiciary Committee pledged Sunday not to stall President Bush's judicial nominees, even if the prospective judges oppose abortion rights.
The White House expressed confidence its choices would get a fair hearing.
Sen. Arlen Specter, a moderate from Pennsylvania who backs abortion rights, said he has supported judicial nominees in the past who do not agree with the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.
"The fact is that I have supported all of President Bush's nominees in committee and on the floor. I have never applied a litmus test," Specter said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Looking ahead to the postelection session of Congress that begins Nov. 16, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said he thought House and Senate negotiators should be able to resolve their differences over competing versions of legislation to overhaul U.S. intelligence agencies.
With the election producing stronger Republican majorities in both the House and Senate, Hastert, R-Ill., also spoke of the need "to find solutions, and we should do it on a bipartisan basis." A newcomer to the capital, Sen.-elect Barack Obama, D-Ill., said the election indicated to him that "people want to get beyond the slash-and-burn, scorched-earth politics that I think has become the custom in Washington."
Meantime, White House political adviser Karl Rove said Bush in his second term "absolutely" would push for a constitutional amendment that says marriage consists only of the union of a man and a woman. Rove added that the president believes states can deal with the issue of civil unions between gay people, an arrangement that if enacted would grant same-sex partners most or all the rights available to married couples.
Right after Tuesday's election, Specter set off a furor among conservatives when he said anti-abortion judges were unlikely to be confirmed by the newly elected Senate.
He said Bush has had trouble getting some of his nominees confirmed because of Democratic filibusters. He added: "I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning."
Filibusters, a bill-killing tactic of unlimited debate, remain possible in the new Senate because the Republicans' 55-45 majority falls five votes short of the 60 needed to cut off debate.
On Sunday, Specter said he was only pointing out a political fact: Republicans alone lack the votes to quash a Democratic filibuster of a Bush nominee. He also said his support for abortion rights would not get in the way of a judge who didn't back those rights.
"Although I am pro-choice, I have supported many pro-life nominees," Specter said.
On "Fox News Sunday," Rove said Bush would nominate only judges who would "strictly apply the law, strictly interpret the Constitution" from the bench.
"He views judges as the impartial umpires," Rove said. "They shouldn't be activist legislators who just happen to wear robes and never face election, ... (who) feel free to pursue their own personal or political agenda."
Rove said Specter has assured the president that he would make certain all Bush's appellate nominees receive a prompt hearing and an up-or-down vote by the full Senate.
"Senator Specter's a man of his word, and we'll take him at his word," Rove said.
Some conservatives are pressing hard to prevent Specter from chairing the Judiciary Committee.
"Senator Specter is a big-time problem for us, and we're very concerned about him," said James Dobson, founder of the conservative Christian lobbying group Focus on the Family.
"There are many, many members of that committee that are more qualified and less of a problem than Senator Specter," Dobson said.
With Chief Justice William Rehnquist ailing from thyroid cancer, much speculation has arisen about whether the president soon may have to nominate a Supreme Court justice. As head of the Judiciary Committee, Specter would have wide latitude to schedule hearings, stage committee votes and make the Senate confirmation process as easy or as hard as he wants.
Items on the congressional agenda in the postelection session and in Bush's second term:
•Intelligence overhaul. Hastert said that with the election over, he hoped "all the political games are done" that have stalled action on legislation stemming from recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission. "I think we need to get it done. It's important for the security of this country," the speaker said.
•Tax laws. Rove said the president wants to review U.S. tax law "in its entirety" and have "a dialogue as to what is necessary to keep this economy flexible and dynamic and growing." On the prospect of major changes to the tax system, Hastert said, "I think this is the only time in generations that you might have a chance to be able to do it."
•Social Security overhaul. Another priority the president has outlined for his second term. Said Sen.-elect Obama: "All of us want to make sure that our senior citizens can retire with dignity and respect. ... So I absolutely think that it's possible for us to find common ground."
President Bush, left, and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., right,
wave as they disembark Air Force One in Philadelphia in this
March 15, 2004 file photo. Specter, who is next in line to become
Senate Judiciary chairman -- the person expected to shepherd
Bush's Supreme Court picks through the Senate --
cautioned earlier this week that anti-abortion judges would have
problems in the Senate. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
Temperment is the key, and Sen. Specter has shown in multiple settings
after Nov 2 that he does not have the needed temperment to act credibly as Chairman.
Despite his wedgie-induced pledge to move on the President's
nominees, he's a weasel who'll find ways to wiggle out of his word.
The jerk is feeling the heat. Good. Turn it up another 10 degrees.
Just look at that slimy S.O.B.'s face next to the President. I'm going to bed. I've had enough of this for tonight.
"As head of the Judiciary Committee, Specter would have wide latitude to schedule hearings, stage committee votes and make the Senate confirmation process as easy or as hard as he wants."
Specter will not do. Everyone keep calling, emailing the leadership telling them NO to Specter.
They better not double-cross us on this one after we gave them the election.
We ain't buying the backpedaling, Specter. Now shut up and get off the damn bus, moron.
"Specter vows fairness for judicial nominees"
Is this an admission that he wasn't fair before?
Bork Specter. That would be ironic.
Blessings, bobo
Agreed. I don't trust him and we would be dumb to take the chance.
We need to keep up the heat and make sure that the Republican caucus in the Senate knows that their precious Senate "traditions" do NOT give them sufficient coverage to ignore the clear intention of the voters who put them in office.
Keep the pressure on! We've got to keep this RINO where he can do the least damage!
SIGN THE PETITION AND CONTACT YOUR SENATORS!
http://www.notspecter.com/petition1.php
TOLL FREE SENATE: 1-800-648-3516
HAHAHAHAHA! What a joke!
Keep it up guys. We got 'em on the run!
BULL#$&@! That is NOT what he meant and everyone knows it. Republicans now have enough votes to change the Senate rules and eliminate the ability to filibuster over judges.
Dump Specter NOW!
Put him in charge a harmless, do-nothing Committee. Judges are too important to be left to such a jerk wad.
Jack.
And I vow to help remove Specter.
I wouldn't trust this charlatan to chair the House Lemonade Stand Committee.
Looks like we got to him. ;)
Senator Specter spoke when he shouldn't have. If he just could have kept his mouth shut he probably would have been fine as long as he did not block Bush appointees but.....
The extemely arrogant Senator could not leave well enough alone and had to act like he was new sheriff in town. I've got news for you Senator Specter you're not even a deputy.
He needs to be put on the decorations committee or the custodian committee, or the incompetent senator committee but not head the judiciary committee. He has poor judgement as this case shows.
We can't take a chance on this guy.
Somehow I've had this recurring nightmare for decades that the only flaw in the Constitution is a six-year term, without term limits.
Lucky for us he outted himself sooner rather than later.
The groundswell of outrage from Specter's preemptive leftist pro-abortion agenda has ensured his dismissal from the Judiciary Committee....
Ding-Dong the witch is dead.
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