Senator aiming for key post wants sit-down with GOP

Chicago Sun Times ^ | November 11 | Jesse J. Holland

[MissouriConservative]

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) wants to make his case to be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee directly to the panel's GOP members next week.

Conservative groups want senators to pass over Specter for the chairmanship because of his comment that anti-abortion judges would be unlikely to be confirmed by the Senate.

Specter, who is an abortion rights moderate, has been calling and meeting with senators individually to assure them he wouldn't personally block Bush nominees from being voted on by the full Senate.

The senator now wants to go in front of the GOP's Judiciary Committee members and hash things out next week in a private meeting, said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a committee member.

The GOP committee members get the first vote on whether Specter will replace current chairman Orrin Hatch, who is stepping down. Whatever decision they make can be appealed to the full GOP caucus.

''I expect we'll sit down with him and hear what his plans are to support the president and his nominees,'' Cornyn said.

[laurens pawpaw]

The republican party has gained the majority members in the U.S. Senate from all the hard work that social and fiscal conservatives had put forth. With all due respect, Arlen Specter does not represent these values and should not be entrusted with the chairmanship of the Judicial Committee.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Hmmm... Maybe we should check out what Scottish Law has to say about this...

[hyperpoly8]

I'd like to see some, any, evidence that Sen. Specter is pro-abortion and not pro-choice. It is only the anti-choice folks who like to brand people pro-abortion, but I'm willing to bet they can't produce evidence to prove it. Could I be among those who will tell a woman she must carry any pregnancy to term, against her will? Nope.

[politicket]

Welcome newbie,

You would have been welcomed in Hitler's Germany since only "certain" people should be allowed to live.

[Paperdoll]

What's to decide? As I've said before, every man leaves a trail. Just examine the spore! What a man says and how he votes cannot be argued away. Let's just hope it won't be ignored.

[Tamzee]

Sounds like a plan.

These are the folks that have worked side-by-side with Specter for years, have made deals with him and have seen how well he abides by them.

If they decide to give him the boot, terrific. If they decide that they can trust him, then so be it.

[NittanyLion]

Could I be among those who will tell a woman she must carry any pregnancy to term, against her will? Nope.

After all, it's only a human life, right?

[cryptical]

You would have been welcomed in Hitler's Germany since only "certain" people should be allowed to live.

So does Godwins Law apply to web sites, or just Usenet? I've never quite figured that out.

[Rebellans]

Specter has voted to spend taxpayer money--your money and mine--on abortions, whether we like it or not. If that's not support of abortion, I don't know what is.

[hyperpoly8]

I sincerely doubt your analysis. I'd never have given up my guns, they'd have had to take them. Some folks want women, even if raped, to have to carry what amounts to a parasitic growth in their body. I don't, that's all.

[politicket]

So does Godwins Law apply to web sites, or just Usenet?

Just Usenet, by definition....good try though.

[hyperpoly8]

Yes, it is, and I value a woman's right to choose what she does with her body over the rights of a fetus. Sorry, but I wasn't ordered to go to church as a child and brainwashed on this issue. We went to all sorts of churches when I was young, and were allowed to choose which, if any, we wanted to go to. I chose to go fishing on Sunday, becoming an Icthypaleon.

[politicket]

what amounts to a parasitic growth in their body...

You need more help than I can offer you!

[hyperpoly8]

I don't view pro-abortion (which I'm not) and pro-choice (which I am) as synonyms.

[gedeon3]

How do you view murder?

[hyperpoly8]

Funny, I always think of this subject exactly the other way around. I probably have too scientific a view for most folks on this site to agree with me. But, I've looked at all sides of this issue and can't agree with you, sorry.

[gedeon3]

'I have been able to order my life along unconventional patterns; and no longer refrain from doing what I want to do simply because it is odd, unusual, distinctive, or unconventional.'

Is that some coded way of telling us you are gay?

[mrsmith]

Godwin's law is a fascist rule!

... oh, darn!

[hyperpoly8]

I view murder as a capital crime, like most folk. I just don't view abortion as murder, unless it is very late in pregnancy and the fetus is viable.

[agrace]

How about a PUBLIC meeting, Specter? Hey yeah, a confirmation hearing of sorts. Great idea!