Posted on 11/16/2004 5:53:19 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch predicted on Tuesday that Sen. Arlen Specter would succeed him as Judiciary Committee chairman next year despite some conservative opposition to the Pennsylvania lawmaker's support for abortion rights.
"I'm for Arlen," Hatch of Utah said as he and Specter emerged from a closed-door meeting with fellow committee Republicans. "I believe he will be a great chairman."
Hatch said no committee Republican voiced opposition to Specter during the meeting, called to let Specter make his case for the chairmanship following a recent wave of criticism from anti-abortion groups and activists.
Hatch was asked if he expected Specter to be chairman, and replied, "Yes, I do."
Specter is by far the most moderate Republican on the committee and the only one who supports abortion rights.
The Judiciary Committee screens White House nominations to the federal bench, including the Supreme Court, which helps shape the law on matters from gays rights to abortion.
Hatch said the formal selection of chairman would not be made until after the 109th Congress convenes in January.
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, also met with Specter on Tuesday and said no decision has been made.
"Tomorrow the dialogue will continue," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican. He said, "Arlen has done a tremendous job in reaching out" to Republican colleagues.
MAKING HEADWAY
Top aides acknowledged that Specter was making headway, having picked up the support in recent days of more than a half dozen Senate Republicans. None have publicly opposed him.
Specter is in line for the chairmanship because of seniority. Hatch must relinquish the post after six years because of Republican term limits for chairmen.
While anti-abortion rights groups have long had concerns about Specter, opposition mounted when Specter soon after the Nov. 2 elections made comments interpreted as a warning to President George W. Bush not to seek Senate confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court nominees who oppose abortion rights.
Specter said he was merely pointing out that nominees would need bipartisan support to clear Democratic procedural hurdles and win Senate confirmation.
Specter, who won a fifth Senate term this month with White House support, has noted that he backed all of Bush's judicial nominees so far and never had a "litmus test" for them.
Specter said: "I don't count any chickens until they are hatched. But with Hatch beside me, I'm a little less unconfident."
Across the street from the Capitol on Tuesday, anti-abortion demonstrators kept up their campaign against Specter.
"We will not go silently into the night," said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition. "We are here and we are making our voices heard loudly and clearly."
we need 2 stop this
Hatch has always seemed very destructive to reform. A RINO supporting a RINO.
I say we have to keep an eye on Orrin Hatch and his DREAM act.
DREAM act. = Financial for illegal alien college students
Why am I not suprised Hatch would support Specter?
These senators are so clubby...they should all be queer and speak with Brit fop accents.
Hatch is a spineless Twit! He has never stood up to the Dimms on the Judicial Committee. Orin should go and sit in the Flower Garden with his FLute and compose more of his Twitty Ass Music.
Hillary gave Arlen Orin's FBI files. Arlen showed Orin. Orin now favors Arlin.
Hatch is no better than Specter --- he needs to go crawl back under whatever rock he crawled out from.
I'll never forgive Hatch for letting the staff member go that exposed the tactics that the dems were planning on their computers. He exposed some activity that was at the least unethical, but could possibly have been illegal (regarding the affirmative action case).
Instead, Hatch was apologizing and asking for an investigation into how the information was gotten. He threw a good man under the bus, just to appease Kennedy, Leahy et. al. He is a coward.
When does Hatch's seat come up for a possible replacement, 2006 or 2008?
Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
D.C. Office: (202) 224-3344
Main District Office: (615) 352-9411
Fax: (202) 228-1264
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=540&type=CO&state=TN
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
D.C. Office: (202) 224-2541
Main District Office: (502) 582-6304
Fax: (202) 224-2499
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=262&type=CO&state=KY
Judiciary Committee Members
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah
D.C. Office: (202) 224-5251
Main District Office: (801) 524-4380
Fax: (202) 224-6331
E-mail form: http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=586&type=CO&state=UT
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa
D.C. Office: (202) 224-3744
Main District Office: (515) 284-4890
Fax: (202) 224-6020
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=248&type=CO&state=IA
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.
D.C. Office: (202) 224-4521
Main District Office: (602) 840-1891
Fax: (202) 224-2207
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=203&type=CO&state=AZ
Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio
D.C. Office: (202) 224-2315
Main District Office: (614) 469-5186
Fax: (202) 224-6519
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=456&type=CO&state=OH
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.
D.C. Office: (202) 224-4124
Main District Office: (334) 244-7017
Fax: (202) 224-3149
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=269&type=CO&state=AL
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
D.C. Office: (202) 224-5972
Main District Office: (864) 250-1417
Fax: (202) 224-3808
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=531&type=CO&state=SC
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho
D.C. Office: (202) 224-2752
Main District Office: (208) 342-7985
Fax: (202) 228-1067
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
D.C. Office: (202) 224-3521
Main District Office: (770) 763-9090
Fax: (202) 224-0103
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=197&type=CO&state=GA
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas
D.C. Office: (202) 224-2934
Main District Office: (512) 469-6034
Fax: (202) 228-2856
E-mail form:
http://capwiz.com/fof/mail/?id=31770&type=CO&state=TX
Somebody here said it first, and said it best - "Don't count your Hatch before he's chickened".
HEY UTAH! Time to get rid of Orrin Hatch...he's been in the "good 'ol boy" network far too long.
Two Rhinos in a pod.
He neglected to mention that where no other Republicans in the meeting.
Just Orrin and Specter.
The should wire his cojones and every time he blocks the President's nominees he gets a little shock.
Is Arlen counting his Hatches before he chickens.
Never liked Orrin Hatch. He has no spine.
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