Posted on 11/08/2004 1:33:03 PM PST by Ahriman
Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the moderate Republican in line to head the Senate Judiciary Committee, pledged Sunday to move quickly on White House judicial nominees if he becomes chairman.
And White House political advisor Karl Rove said he believed that President Bush's nominees would receive prompt and fair hearings if Specter were chairman.
Still, some conservative activists complained about Specter's views on abortion, urging Senate Republicans not to confirm him.
In a news conference Wednesday, the day after the election, Specter predicted that judicial nominees who opposed abortion rights would have a difficult time getting Senate approval. His comments produced an outcry from the right.
Attempting to tamp down the controversy, Specter told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that he would not use a nominee's views on abortion as a "litmus test."
"My record is pretty plain that, although I am pro-choice, I have supported many pro-life nominees," he said.
He cited his support for Supreme Court nominees Clarence Thomas in 1991 and Anthony M. Kennedy in 1986 and the elevation in 1986 of Justice William H. Rehnquist to the post of chief justice even though Rehnquist had voted against Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that upheld a woman's right to choose abortion.
Specter said his comments last week referred to the fact that, despite winning four more Senate seats, the GOP cannot by itself block a Democratic filibuster on nominations. Sixty votes are needed to end a filibuster; the Republicans will have 55 seats in the next Senate.
Specter also noted that "I have supported all of President Bush's nominees in committee and on the floor."
Spector is doing damage control... I don't expect him to succeed either... he is in big big trouble.
What did he do, if anything, in furtherance of that opinion?
I don't know where he was on Bork (the most brilliant conservative and legal mind in the 2oth cent) But I do know that the christians who delivered this election for bush want his head on a platter!!!
He also voted against the conviction of Clinton using some sort of nonsense called "Scottish Law".
To be fair he did help get Clarence Thomas nominated.
You might care to read his takes on the 2nd amendment before you say that again.
Specter is awful. What a pathetic defense he is putting forth on his behalf. Listening to Specter is painful.
Hannity must be the most ineffective interviewer I have ever heard.
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
What are you talking about? He let Specter talk, and Specter just hung himself. He just said repeatedly that he won't discuss "hypotheticals," and Hannity hammered him on not being willing to "fight" for the President's nominees. I think Specter just talked himself out of the job.
You'll never guess who was foursquare AGAINST Bork. The NRA! They showed him having some very antigun rhetoric on the 2nd Amendment as being a collective right and backed it up with some of his decisions and opinions. I was flabbergasted. But it's true.
pro sodomite pro abortion pro union
Spector 'borked' Bork
He's no conservative...he's a trojan whorse
Bork Specter
Hey - you just called a PRESS CONFERENCE . . Arlen. And you said the President of these United States, nominally of YOUR OWN PARTY, who just won the election, had bettttttterrr not send up a nominee who might just possibly consider reversing even a part of the Roe/Doe precedent.
That's not supporting the President's nominee, Arlen. That's rather . . . behaving like a Dem.
Was that a 'Scottish' accent?
Listening to the man, Spectre is NOT . . the man for the chairmanship. His obstructionist mind is made up. He's basing his defense of Roe/Doe on stare decisis, to which Hannity mentioned - Dred Scot. And Spectre couldn't handle that and just tried to move on. This is THE WRONG GUY. Period.
Hold your friends close.
Hold your enemies closer.
Before long, Specter will be promising to wash the cars and clean the garages of any Bush nominees.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.