Furor Continues Over Specter Comments on Nominees

Washington Post ^ | 11/7/04 | Susan Schmidt

[GeneralHavoc]

Several influential conservative Republicans indicated yesterday that Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who is in line to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee next year, has not succeeded in tamping down the furor he created last week when he appeared to warn President Bush not to select Supreme Court nominees who oppose abortion rights.

Senator-elect John Thune (R-S.D.), who defeated Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D) in a race that turned in part on stalled judicial nominations, said newly elected members of the GOP's 55-member majority will raise questions with Senate leaders this week about Specter's elevation.

Thune said he was "troubled" by Specter's statements and vowed "there will be some questions asked by those of us who are coming in as freshmen who ran our campaigns built around that very central theme that we need to have good judges on the bench." Thune made the comments in an interview on ABC's "This Week."

Specter's comments were also derided by House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and, most forcefully, by James Dobson, who has been credited with helping to mobilize the vote for Bush as head of the Christian group Focus on the Family.

Specter "is a problem, and he must be derailed," Dobson said on "This Week." Senate offices were swamped with calls about Specter late last week, and the uproar is "not going to go away," Dobson said. "Republican senators know they've got a problem."

[vannrox]

MESSAGE FROM LAURA INGRAHAM:

STOP SPECTER NOW--WE NEED YOU: Liberal Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, who bailed on the Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork in 1987, and who ardently describes himself as pro-abortion rights, is slated to become the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee unless you act now. We need you to call your Republican senator and make your views on this heard asap. Contact Senate Judicary Committee members by clicking here and click here for the numbers of your all Republican senator(s). If your state is represented only by Democrats, call Majority Leader Sen. Bill Frist's office at 202 224 3344.

[MohawkDrums]

I saw Thune's appearance on Georgie's show. He also said that if the leadership decided Specter should be chairman, he would support that decision. I don't think he hurt himself either way. He said he would ask tough questions. Nothing wrong with that.

In all the hoohah, I've missed something -- who is considered the likely alternative to Specter as chairman?

[Atchafalaya]

Taking names and kicking ass, I hope my guy Vitter is of the same ilk!

[F16Fighter]

Alright!

Thune taking no prisoners 5 days after copping a Senate seat.

Maybe some other Pubbies can take note on how to brandish a pair.

[GeneralHavoc]

John Kyl is the Specter alternative.

[Luke21]

Just wrote to my senator, Jon Kyl. I asked him to consider opposing Specter himself.

[Outraged]

bump

[valleygal]

Jon Kyl is my senator, too. He would be an awesome replacement.

[Agrarian]

"Pretty bold words from the freshman senator, there."

When you've slain the dragon, you can be a little bold. A Specter-type Republican would have had his head handed to him by Daschle.

Methinks also that Thune got a barrage of e-mail from the people who had just elected him. Judicial nominations were indeed a central focus of his campaign. He mercilessly pounded Daschle on it at every opportunity.

I know that my elderly parents, who had been going soft on Daschle because of his skill at portraying himself differently in SD than nationally, ultimately voted for Thune in no small part because of their worries about the Supreme Court.

[Agrarian]

Good point -- Thune is a pretty moderate guy compared to Coburn. Can you say "red meat" boys and girls?

[GeneralHavoc]

If Thune says he is troubled by Specter, just imagine what Coburn will say!

[Agrarian]

"...an old school minority Senator..."

Exactly. We know that type VERY well in the GOP.

[Prime Choice]

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.

Hilarious...and quite true. Well said!

[MohawkDrums]

Well, thinking about it some more, I really don't care how this one goes, but don't be too disappointed if the Washington ways win out. They're a superstitious lot, and they love the certainty of seniority and perks. The more I see Specter sweating every talk show in sight, though, the more I think he might actually be going down. I can't imagine anyone will really come to his defense -- he has betrayed everyone in his attempts to please everyone. Still, as a Pennsylvania voter who supported Toomey in the primary, I still think he was the best choice for me last week. I don't want my party to give up on this state despite the recent disappointment here.

[narses]

Thune Rocks!

(Daschle is deeply saddened.)

[cmotormac44]

"he will find a way to wiggle out of his word"

It will have something to do with Scottish Law, I presume-

[valleygal]

I heard Specter on Sean Hannity briefly today. He went on and on about the judges he helped get confirmed and how he fought against Kennedy and Shumer, blah, blah, blah.

He's sounds like a man fighting for the job, not one convinced he has it.

I would vote for a Zell Miller democrat over an Arlen Specter republican any day.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

That there are even any Republicans willing to tolerate and defend the vile anti-Christian and anti-Catholic bigotry of such a loathsome smarmy degenerate creep like Specter should raise a few eyebrows among any sincere conservatives interested in what really goes on in the temples of power in Washington.

When I was a young man, I briefly dated a liberal Democratic lobbyist in Washington. She told me about her close friend ( a 22-yr-old staffer fresh out of college) who was allegedly having an affair with a senator from Connecticut. Another story which came through this liberal fever swamp of young female skanky Democratic swingers in the slimy wasteland of Washington was that the pro-choice Senator from Pennsylvania had an "open marriage." Apparently, the ardent enthusiasm for keeping abortion legal sprang from more than just academic interest.

[GeneralHavoc]

GRASSROOTSPA CALL TO ACTION

STOP SPECTER FROM BLOCKING BUSH'S JUDGES

Contact Senator Frist
202-224-3135

Contact Senator Santorum
202-224-6324

Tell them in no uncertain terms that Specter cannot be made Senate Judiciary Chairman

Do NOT take "no" for an answer!

Bush has no Mandate?

Just say "NO" To Specter's Games!

Senate Judiciary Committee GOP Members

Contact Senator Orrin Hatch
202-224-5251

Contact Senator Charles Grassley
202-224-3744

Contact Senator Jon Kyl
202-224-4521

Contact Senator Mike DeWine
202-224-2315

Contact Senator Jeff Sessions
202-224-4124

Contact Senator Lindsey Graham
202-224-5972

Contact Senator Larry Craig
202-224-2752

Contact Senator Saxby Chambliss
202-224-3521

Contact Senator John Cornyn
202-224-2934

[ninenot]

Spectral's appearance on Hannity was a hoot. Backing, filling, spraying foo-foo dust...and slamming Bork again.

So then Hannity calls Bork!

Ol' Bob took out the field artillery and absolutely FLATTENED Spectral's "nuance."

Now Arlen has a flat nuance...