Dobson: What Rove Said About Miers (other FEMALE candidates on short list supposedly withdrew)

Time ^ | 10/11/05 | MIKE ALLEN

[Ol' Sparky]

Dobson: What Rove Said About Miers

In his radio program, the Focus on the Family founder reveals what reassured him about the Supreme Court nominee

By MIKE ALLEN

Posted Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005

Trying to reassure his flock about the Supreme Court nomination of Harriet Miers, James C. Dobson set off a firestorm last week when he said that Karl Rove had told him some things he "probably shouldn't know" that led him to believe Miers "will be a good justice." With the Right on a rampage over what some saw as a betrayal, Dobson spoke of "things that I'm privy to that I can't describe because of confidentiality." Had Dobson received an assurance from Rove that Miers, now the White House counsel, would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade? Democrats suspected so, and said they would call Dobson as a witness at her confirmation hearing, which is likely to begin late this month or in early November.

Facing increasing criticism, Dobson announced he would come clean on his Wednesday radio program. In a transcript of the show recorded Tuesday, he says Rove has given him permission to make public their conversation, which occurred two days before Bush's announcement. In brief: Rove assured him Miers was a strong Evangelical Christian—and that some other female candidates supported by the Right had withdrawn their names from consideration.

According to Dobson, Rove said the President "was looking for a certain kind of candidate, namely a woman." Rove added that Miers "was at the top of the short list of names under consideration," but that others had withdrawn from consideration. "Some of the other candidates who had been on that short list, and that many conservatives are now upset about, were highly qualified individuals that had been passed over," Dobson says. "What Karl told me is that some of those individuals took themselves off that list and they would not allow their names to be considered, because the process has become so vicious and so vitriolic and so bitter, that they didn't want to subject themselves or the members of their families to it."

It's hard to overstate the power of Dobson's voice among social conservatives, making him a real life raft for the White House at a time when many in the movement have greeted the pick with skepticism, disdain and outright opposition. A licensed psychologist and former professor of pediatrics, Dobson is perhaps best known in the secular world for his 3-million-seller "Dare to Discipline." His official biography says he has "consulted with President George Bush on family related matters." Focus on the Family says he is heard on 2,000 radio stations in the U.S., and is heard by more than 200 million people around the world every day.

Dobson says on Wednesday's "Focus on the Family" broadcast the information from Rove that reassured him was "what we all know now: that Harriet Miers is an Evangelical Christian, that she is from a very conservative church, which is almost universally pro-life, that she had taken on the American Bar Association on the issue of abortion and fought for a policy that would not be supportive of abortion, that she had been a member of the Texas Right to Life." Even so, Dobson says, “Rove didn't tell me anything about the way Harriet Miers would vote on cases that may come before the Supreme Court. We did not discuss Roe v. Wade in any context or any other pending issue that will be considered by the court."

Miers still has strong public backing from the White House. On Tuesday, the President and the First Lady teamed up for a vigorous defense of Miers in a live interview with Matt Lauer of NBC's "Today" show at a Habitat for Humanity site in Louisiana, with Laura Bush saying that the nominee is "very deliberate and thoughtful, and will bring dignity to wherever she goes." Republicans say there is no chance Bush will yank the Miers nomination of his own accord. But some influential Republicans said there is a small chance she will survey the flak ahead and decide to withdraw on her own.

[dawn53]

I haven't read this entire thread, but basically this is the same "inside" info we got from Pukin Dog the other day.
People withdrew because they didn't want to face the scrutiny to themselves or their families and who can blame them.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1499585/posts

[Terpfen]

It's outrageous that Bush is getting away with this.

Getting away with what? Not throwing someone's name out in order to have them publically savaged on live television? It's a good thing Bush is getting away with that. I wouldn't wish the confirmation process on anyone.

Do you REALLY think that this was the most qualified person he could find?

I have a question. Do you even know what the hell my post was referring to, or did you just see someone who isn't bashing Bush or Miers, and therefore needed to "set him straight," so to speak?

[RadioCirca1970]

Dobson is just doing this to prove to his followers that he has 'juice' with the White House. It's not about religion or a broader political movement, it's a case of "Hey look everyone, you're with a winner, the President had to explain his choice to me...."

Just another special interest being sated by the political class. Ralph Neas with real hair, he is....

[G.Mason]

From Gore/Bush Debate Oct.3, 2000

"MODERATOR: On the Supreme Court question. Should a voter assume -- you're pro-life.

BUSH: I am pro-life.

MODERATOR: Should a voter assume that all judicial appointments you make to the supreme court or any other court, federal court, will also be pro-life?

BUSH: The voters should assume I have no litmus test on that issue or any other issue. Voters will know I'll put competent judges on the bench.

People who will strictly interpret the Constitution and not use the bench for writing social policy. That is going to be a big difference between my opponent and me.

I believe that the judges ought not to take the place of the legislative branch of government. That they're appointed for life and that they ought to look at the Constitution as sacred. They shouldn't misuse their bench.

I don't believe in liberal activist judges. I believe in strict constructionists. Those are the kind of judges I will appoint.

I've named four in the State of Texas and ask the people to check out their qualifications, their deliberations. They're good, solid men and women who have made good, sound judgments on behalf of the people of Texas."

These are the Presidents words.

[patj]

...they would not allow their names to be considered, because the process has become so vicious and so vitriolic and so bitter, that they didn't want to subject themselves or the members of their families to it."

There's the money quote. Maybe it's time we donated to a fund that would investigate Democrat senators and newspeople. They want to play this vicious game of tearing down Republicans and there is no cost to them. Lets's make them pay a price as well.

[maryz]

The democratic party is the party of lockstep compliance with leadership.

That's why they remain so effective even in the minority. If Republicans had more "lockstep compliance," we could have set off the nuclear option in June and we wouldn't be having this particular discussion.

[maryz]

Dem's and the gang of 7 traitors have so poisoned the process that no one wants to go through it.

The process was already poisoned. Probably lots of people didn't want to go through it before McCain and his Merry Moderates made failure of a credentialed conservative pretty much inevitable. To go through that process has been ugly for a while; to go through it for nothing in the end isn't more appealing.

[BlackbirdSST]

The fact that this list was limited to women only sounds rather sexist and elitist on it's face. Where does the RNC come down on this one? Find the microphone Ken! Blackbird.

[SkyPilot]

It's particularly odd that this was leaked by previously tight lipped staffers to two different bloggers on the same day that Rove "gave permission" to Dobson to reveal this part of their supposed conversation.

That is because Karl Rove has decided to take back the reigns on this fiasco. It has been all over the boards that Rove had almost nothing to do with the Miers pick. It was something Andy Card "cooked up" and to say he mishandled this is the understatement of the year.

Rove is trying to bring some adult supervision back into this, but it may be too late.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

To: samantha; Texas Songwriter; k2blader; freepatriot32; Stellar Dendrite; flashbunny; Hank Rearden; ...
The Democrat Underground has been lurking all over these threads...
We can only hope.

Maybe those lemmings will finally get it into their thick skulls that there are people who are willing to stand up for their innermost political convictions, instead of bowing to political expediency and unquestioningly accepting the perceived wisdom of people who we have no reason to trust, based upon their prior actions.

I hope they are lurking.

Maybe a few of them will have an epiphany and realize how ridiculous it is to be part of a cult of personality.

Perhaps they'll realize what a foolhardy decision it was to countenance the subornation of perjury, obstruction of justice, and grotesque abuse of power by the Clinton administration.

Maybe they'll think twice before falling in lockstep behind a charismatic leader, who may-or may not-have your best interests in mind.

I sure as hell hope they're lurking!

Let them see what it means to stand up for your principles, instead of being a mindless sycophant of one political leader.


190 posted on 10/11/2005 6:28:01 PM EDT by Do not dub me shapka broham

[RushingWater]

From the Wash Times Mr. Specter had suggested he might call Mr. Dobson and Mr. Rove to testify before his committee about any inside knowledge they might have about Miss Miers -- a threat that has only heightened the angst many conservatives feel about the nomination.

Gee, what a friend we have in Specter.

[johnny7]

Oh great... now we got people who don't want to go through the rigors of hearings.

[mo]

I would agree in that on the surface this appears to be a sexist nomination.

[L,TOWM]

Dobson corroborates your version of events.

[PjhCPA]

Well made point. And i agree.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Some people are so proud of being part of a herd of cats they don't realize that it never actually gets them anywhere.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I'd like to see that "promise" sourced. A "known" conservative? Known to who? I don't believe Bush ever said that."

It all depends on the meaning of "known conservative". What Bush DID say was that he intended to appoint Supreme Court justices "... in the mold of Scalia and Thomas...". Now, Scalia and Thomas ARE considered "conservative", so in effect, Bush DID promise to appoint "known conservatives".

[Wonder Warthog]

"People withdrew because they didn't want to face the scrutiny to themselves or their families and who can blame them."

I frankly do NOT believe that, at least in the case of Janice Rogers Brown. Since she just went through exactly that over her appointment to the appelate level of the court, why should going through the process again faze her??? In her case it is "been there, done that".

[q_an_a]

It is great how you both have an idea to trash the life work of someone for the sake of purity of "your opinion".

Could I suggest that if you want to do this picking of judges try getting elected President. If people who are republican are watching Will,Kristol and Frum trash a good person then the member of any profession they will know that taking a post in the Bush administration is not worth the price - you two posters would exact.

[Guenevere]

Ping!...

...especially read paragragh 3....sound familiar? :)