Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
Posted on 11/18/2004 4:04:39 PM PST by conservativecorner
(CNSNews.com) - Pro-life activists, seeking to derail the appointment of Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Arlen Specter to the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will not get a chance to personally argue their case with Majority Leader Bill Frist.
A coalition of pro-life religious leaders did meet with Frist's aides Tuesday, but any efforts to persuade Frist about Specter's fitness to serve as Judiciary chairman will have to be done from afar.
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, said Frist's top aide cited scheduling problems that would preclude a meeting with Frist from taking place.
"It is deeply troubling that Senator Frist could not find the time to sit down and discuss the Arlen Specter situation with national leaders and clergy from the pro-life/pro-family community. It clearly shows a profound lack of respect and understanding toward the very people who re-elected President Bush and gave the Republicans majorities in both the House and Senate," Mahoney stated.
"The reality that Senator Frist must now understand is, don't dismiss and ignore us today and expect our enthusiastic support in 2008 if you decide to run for president," Mahoney added.
Despite initial concerns over whether Specter, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, would give President Bush's conservative judicial nominees fair hearings, Frist Wednesday sounded like the issue had already been decided.
"Today he had the opportunity to make some comments, which were received very well by members of the (Republican) caucus," Frist said, adding that he was anxious to resolve the issue over who will chair the committee.
In addition to handling the president's nominations to the lower federal courts, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee could soon be dealing with one or more Bush nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court.
I also share your concern on these other very important issues. Specter fails on each issue.
The opposition mounted against Spectre stemmed from his actions over Bork, recent egotistical statements against the President, as well as the position he would not advance pro-Life justices. It may have ballooned to other issues like the ones you named, but they were not the centralized core of what initially formed this opposition. As such, it is not surprising "litmus tests" form the basis of the majority of discussion.
I will disagree with you that this is seen by majority as an issue of "religious fundamantalism". It is not. I have repeatedly stated when opposition was attempted against Bush's AG appointment I would not join a pro-Life chorus of opposition. My reasoning was not that I am for abortion, but rather I do not believe one's opinion on that issue alone makes them unsuited to perform the task of AG.
My problem with Spectre is not that he is pro-Choice. My problem is that he stated he would oppose people that were pro-Life. I'd hold the same position if the positions were reversed. Litmus tests are a violate of our procedures.
I love Bush and Karl, but if they or the GOP leadership betray the pro-life folks that put them in power, they are gonna go down big time. And I will assure that the Almighty is not indifferent on the subject.
I've been a Republican, and I've been a Democrat. But I've never voted based on my party. I'm one or the other simply so that my vote counts in the primary. This time I was willing to give the Republicans the benefit of the doubt and vote for them because of the pro-life issue, and ONLY because of the pro-life issue. I knew I was risking being taken for a sucker, but now that we've got them in a position where they really CAN do something about the issue, I will be holding them accountable and will not give them a second chance if they fail to come through.
I think at this year's March for Life, we must make it exceptionally clear that if they don't come through in THIS congress, then they're out on their collective ear in 2006 AND in 2008.
It's time for hardball, boys, and if you can't take it, then get the hell out of the way!
I, like you, am concerned about Specters propensity to vote against Bush on things that are other than pro-life. I have heard about his objection to tort reform and he is supposed to be in favor the Internation World Court. That, The Kyoto agreement, a World tax, anything that has to do with a Global ANYTHING, I am against and so better Specter be.
Perhaps. Frist's brother is a billionaire due to equity holdings in HMO HCA. Frist personally holds millions in equity in the same. There would be a big push by the medical establishment to put Frist into the Oval Office. Unlike trial lawyers, the public would not be adverse to this special interest, particularly as Frist is a doctor.
In a general election, Frist would be favored to win. Fortunately, the GOP primaries should weed him out.
Did you read all of my post...I see you only sampled (like some rap singer)...
You and I are not going to stop his Chairmanship...apparently the letter-writing was to no avail. Fine. What I'm saying is, if he steps out of line (or if any elected offical steps out of line), vote them out. Bring them back to the private sector. Send a message to those still in office...and those who seek office. The only way to hold any elected official accountable is to let them know they can be voted out. Period. So save the UN comparisons. Start reading with your eyes and your mind open. And try and follow....
Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.
Meeting with a core constituency to tell them in person why you are going to stiff them on an issue isn't "appearing to be dictated to". It's political courtesy. To refuse to meet with them signals an intentional insult.
You can bet your bottom dollar that it would be a different story if the tables were reversed. I mean does anyone think the demoRATs would treat an inbeached Republican president with such finesse?
That's all I'm saying. Elected officials must be held accountable. But as long as they can count on this voting block or that voting block, and then don't act as advertised, the voter is the sucker. Frankly, I'm amazed at the number of professional politicians we have--suits who have taken a once great nation and brought us to the brink of moral depravity, rampant corruption, asphyxiation by regulation, mammoth government, taxation without full representation--when I consider all this, all I can say is, "what kind of fool is the American voter!" It's time, long overdue, in fact, where Americans wake up and recognize that the form of government we have the opportunity for is a REPRESENTATIVE government. Why do we keep settling for an aristocracy?
Specter has been effectively neutered. He won't be a problem with respect to nominees.
48 posted on 11/18/2004 5:12:53 PM PST by DManA
Famous last words.
This ranks with, "Not even God can sink this ship."
Read on...The Bushites are here as usual.
"I bet we won't see the church ladies and other conservative, Catholic, Evangelicals, Presbyterians and other Christians making phone calls and walking precincts in 2006 and 2008."
Yes. And if those folks sit it out...an awful lot of Washington Republicans will be call up Allied Van Lines and Mayflower movers for that long trip back home...
It is time to bring in a 3rd party and show the Dims and Reps just what a government of the people, for the people actually is.
Don't ask for a lifesaver when the ship is still above water. Work to keep it above water!
Amen to that!
I'm in New York, so I can't do much in Pennsylvania. I'd pay the Toomey Campaign Committee to see a Toomey/Santorum primary.
What is that Frist thinking? He'll never be president after this.
I still say not to give up. There remains a whole bunch of Senators who have to vote in January.
I hear various comments opining that Specter is now neutered, that he will comply now, that he won't rebel, etc etc.
I guess time will tell. It is very troubling that Republican Senators, having a bigger majority now, insist on caving to RINOs such as Specter.
Is it because they want to KA to the Dems, to the Boys Club Senators, they don't really care about their own party platform, or what? Are many of them just totally insincere power hungry politicians with no real conservative convictions?
They are trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Some folks have a tough time actually winning something ...
It won't take long to find out. And if he didn't get the point, HE WILL!
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