Posted on 11/10/2004 3:16:13 PM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, a moderate Republican engulfed in a political firestorm fanned by abortion foes, wants to make the case to fellow party members that he should head the committee that oversees judicial nominations, a lawmaker said on Wednesday.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said Specter, a pro-choice Republican, is seeking a meeting with him and other Republicans on the Judiciary Committee when Congress returns next week to insist he has no "litmus test" for judicial nominees.
Because of seniority, Specter is in line to head the committee when the 109th Congress convenes in January. But comments he made after last week's election put him in jeopardy.
Specter was seen as issuing a warning to Bush against picking Supreme Court nominees who oppose abortion rights.
Following a wave of criticism, he said he was merely pointing out the political reality that nominees would need bipartisan support to gain the 60-votes necessary to clear procedural hurdles and win confirmation.
While Senate Republicans have been largely silent on Specter's fate, Cornyn said the senator called on Tuesday and that he now expects him to become chairman.
"Based on what he told me yesterday -- if that is his position and if it is his public position and it is one we can rely on going forward -- I would not have an objection to him serving as chairman," Cornyn told reporters.
Also on Wednesday, Sen. Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican who does not sit on the Judiciary Committee, said he believes Specter, the only pro-choice Republican on the panel, should chair it.
"In the last four years, he has supported every judgeship that has been put forward" by President Bush, Gregg said. "He's a tough guy, he knows how to run a committee, and he's very effective, and I think he'll be a strong chairman of that committee and a great benefit to the president."
Despite such words of support, a number of congressional aides said it remained unclear if Senate Republicans would back Specter, though one predicted, "I think he survives."
While conservatives have flooded the Senate with calls and letters, the Pennsylvania Republican has waged his own offensive with television appearances and newspaper articles, noting that he has voted to confirm anti-abortion judicial nominees.
Asked on CNN on Tuesday if he was confident he would get the chairmanship, Specter said: "My approach is to work hard, leave no stone unturned and not count my chickens until they're hatched."
As a result of last week's elections, the number of Republicans in the 100-member Senate will increase by four to 55 next year. (Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell)
Specter is not a "moderate Republican."
WARNING: AssKissing Alert...!!!
Keep up the pressure as indicated on NotSpecter.com and the other sites. Don't let this meally mouthed twofaced jerk talk his way into that chairmanship.
We don't even have an appropriate acronym for Arlen. RINO don't begin to cover it.
Funny how advocating the murder of unborn infants is considered "moderate" by the MSM.
Crushing the skulls of living little babies and sucking their brains out, is "moderate"!
God help us all...
Must they start out not telling truth before they finish the first sentence? Moderate, no way!
Keep it up... he's getting what he deserves!!!
It's time for my fellow Texans join me in flooding our newest Texas Senator with communications from us, telling him our opinion!
He knows these linguini-spined Republicans and feels he can talk his way out of this mess and into the chairmanship. We had better let them know that they will be kissing their seat goodbye if they vote for him.
Arlen had better bring treats, or something...
You mean "Spectored".
"Borked" is a blocking move through misrepresentation and on occasion, bearing false witness.
"Spectored" is a blocking move against those that "Bork".
Only if you're an ultra-liberal member of the media.
We'll see. Keep up the phone calls & faxes. Even other RINOs voted NOT to allow prosecution of our military by the World Court. Specter voted to ALLOW it! He doesn't even deserve the RINO tag.
In addition to the Senators, contact the GOP itself:
Office of the Chairman
Ed Gillespie, Chairman
Maria Cino, Deputy Chairman
Phone: 202-863-8700
Fax: 202-863-8774
Email: Chairman@gop.com
Then let's get Specter Spectered.
Over the last four years there have hardly been any judicial candidates to vote for, because Daschle & Co. fillibustered against most of them.
Specter voted for all of clinton's appointments too, and there were a LOT more of them. Some of them were very, very bad indeed.
How easy is it to remove Arlen as chairman after the fact? IOW, couldn't we take a wait-and-see approach?
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