Judicial Remarks Stir Conservatives (LAT)

[jefferson_dem]

WASHINGTON — Outraged conservatives demanded Thursday that Sen. Arlen Specter not be allowed to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee after he made comments they said suggested that a Supreme Court nominee who opposed abortion rights could not be confirmed.

Specter, a moderate Republican from Pennsylvania, is in line by seniority to head the committee, which conducts hearings on nominees to the court.


The Family Research Council, a group that opposes abortion, called remarks that Specter made during a Philadelphia news conference Wednesday the "height of arrogance and ingratitude."

Noting that President Bush had helped Specter win a tough primary battle against an antiabortion candidate, the group urged supporters to call or write Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) to demand that he not allow Specter to become chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

<SNIP>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-specter5nov05,1,5393867.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

[The Zanti Regent]

1. From Atrios--Specter kisses up to Captain Jockstrap

Washington, D.C. - Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) made the following comments today on the judicial confirmation process.

“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.

“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.


Go suck on some magic bullets, Arlen!

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

2. Memo to the Cat Killer: beware what you wish for!

Specter tried to self-spin out of this one last night, claiming essentially that he was quoted out of context. But it's clear that he's just trying to backpedal to walk a very fine line.

Frist is now caught in the crosshairs between the lunatic FRC and the handful of Senate GOP moderate conservatives who, if they band together, can come close to eclipsing his margin of error: Chafee, Snowe, Collins and Specter. I think even folks like Gregg, Lugar, Hagel and McCain despise the FRC types. And remember that Zell Miller will no longer be available to pitch in from the other side of the aisle.

This is gonna be fun!