Republicans Squeeze Specter, Hint at Changing Filibuster Rules
Reported by Marie Therese - November 6, 2004 -
The following report, entitled Specter Clarifies Statement on Court Nominees, was reported on FOXNews.com 11/5/04 at 1:45 AM EST.
"At about the same time Bush was being declared the winner of the 2004 presidential election, [Pennsylvania Senator Arlen] Specter said he believed it is unlikely that the president might nominate abortion opponents to the Supreme Court, adding what sounded to some in the room like a subtle warning to the president."
"'The president is well aware of what happened when a bunch of his nominees were sent up, with the filibuster,' he [Specter] said, referring to the success of Senate Democrats in the past four years to prevent the president's nominees from being confirmed to the bench. 'And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning.'"
"Adding that the current Supreme Court lacks legal 'giants' on the bench, Specter said the president would want to avoid nominating anyone who would oppose the 1973 decision legalizing abortion."
"'When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think that is unlikely," he said."
Specter, as you might recall, is in line to become the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Rumors have been flying that the Republican leadership, who owe their election victory to 3 million evangelical Christians, were furious with Specter and threatened to deny him the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee unless he modified his position.
According to FOXNews.com, "In a strategy phone call with Majority Leader Bill Frist on Thursday, GOP leaders discussed in a 'stern way' comments Specter made during a victory press conference following his election to a fifth term in the Senate."
The article goes on to say:
"Republican leaders in the conference call Thursday said they wanted Specter to "issue a clarification" since his remarks upset several Republicans. A short time later, Specter did just that."
"'Contrary to press accounts, I did not warn the president about anything and was very respectful of his constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges,' Specter said in a statement. 'As the record shows, I have supported every one of President Bush's nominees in the Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor. I have never and would never apply any litmus test on the abortion issue and, as the record shows, I have voted to confirm Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justice O'Connor and Justice Kennedy and led the fight to confirm Justice Thomas.'"
COMMENT
The Republicans are clearly broadcasting their intention to change the Senate rules, which will, in effect, remove the Democrats' ability to filibuster judicial nominees. In Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said "I'm very confident that now we've gone from 51 seats to 55 seats, we will be able to overturn what has become customary filibuster of judicial nominees." This was hinted at by Trent Lott in an interview on Wednesday, 11/3/04 Big Story with John Gibson. (See my post on this.)
Bush and his minions are not letting the grass grow under their feet. They are using this time when the Democrats are licking their wounds and engaging in endless second-guessing to set the stage to emasculate an already weakened Democratic Party by siphoning off enough "centrist" (turncoat) Democrats to literally doom the country to a strict construction court for the next 40 years!
Well, I say, if the party leadership can't get their act together, we need to do it and FAST. Senator Lott said they plan to change these rules in January.
Here's an immediate action you can take. Go to NARAL and sign their petition putting George Bush on notice that 55 million Americans support a woman's right to choose.
Then e-mail it to your family and friends.
Also, contact your local Democratic Party (or Green Party or Peace & Freedom Party) and volunteer.
Or sit on your duff and do nothing.
The choice is yours.
