Did Bush promise to appoint a justice like [in the mold of] Scalia? Have we been misled?

Media Matters ^ | October 13, 2005 | - J.F.

[Rokke]

"This is no "urban myth". He said it at EVERY rally, in EVERY city."

Your completely unsupported statement is factually incorrect. I attended four Bush rallies and NEVER heard him say such a thing. I DID here him say that he would appoint judges who would not legislate from the bench. I never once heard him name anybody he would use as a model.

[Jim Robinson]

Well, I innocently posted on a reply that Bush had promised a nominee in the mold of a Scalia or Thomas. I was challenged by another poster that he never promised any such thing. Hmmmm... I honestly thought he had, so I've been searching for the last couple days for the quote. Found many references by pundits and writers to the quote, but Google didn't turn up any direct quotes from the president. Stumbled onto this just a little while ago. I know the source is anti-Bush, but if someone can find a transcript with said quote, I'd sure like to see it.

I might add that if Bush didn't say it he should have. I honestly thought he had.

Jim

[Frank T]

"Miers is more like Thomas."

Clarence Thomas is a libertarian.

How do you deduce that Miers is "like Thomas" too?

[The Red Zone]

you just killed a puppy!

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Okay, let's say Bush didn't make the promise. Who the HECK is this guy we've worked so hard to elected, then? What brand of "conservative" wouldn't nominate another Scalia or Thomas?

[COEXERJ145]

FYI, MM is the left wing version of MRC.

With ties to George Soros.

[Killborn]

Just wanted to make sure everyone is on the same page. I think the best place to look would be the White house site. Proof of what he said would certainly be there.

BTW, once again thank you for this great site and congratulations on the FReepathon. :)

[JCEccles]

So he's off the hook. It turns out he was free to nominate justices after the mold of his private secretary and chief suck-up.

But you know, on the basis of the objective evidence of qualifications alone, Miers herself would have never selected . . . herself . . . for the seat.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Did hearings reveal the truth about Souter, Kennedy, or O'Connor?

[F16Fighter]

"I was at one of the W pre-election rallies, and heard the line:

"I will appoint justices in the mold of Scalia and Thomas".

This is no 'urban myth'. He said it at EVERY rally, in EVERY city."

Interesting...

Will George H. Bush's quote, "Read my lips -- NO new taxes" now be reassigned "urban myth" status as well?

[The Red Zone]

Anyone who has done four semesters of calculus has to respect this, too.

[AmishDude]

MM is the left wing version of MRC.

Not really. MRC is more thorough, presents long quotes to get full context and is a quality organization. MM focuses on a few "outrages" to get itself in the news.

[AmishDude]

Uh, but calculus is usually three semesters!

:)

[JCEccles]

Miers'? Math.

That'll be real useful.

[The Red Zone]

you just killed a kitten

[The Red Zone]

For Engineers, it's four.

[wolfpat]

If she does that, she might just face some Republican opposition. She has to give us an idea who she would be on the bench, while not saying how she might rule on a specific case. If she pulls this off, I'd say President Bush put the wrong one in the CJ post.

[AmericaUnited]

EVERY Bush appointment has been an "originalist."

Any that IS what Bush has promised again and again.

[Killborn]

Correct. Whereas MRC is dedicated to exposing media bias, MM covers it up and say "Liberal media? What liberal media?"

[dc-zoo]

Jim, I believe you'll find that quote in one of Bush's debates with Kerry.