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Arlen Specter 'Borked' Himself from Senate Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON, November 5, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Republican pro-abortion Senator Arlen Specter, who won his fifth consecutive seat in the Senate for Pennsylvania in Tuesday's US presidential election, warned US President George W. Bush Wednesday that Bush's so-called narrow win was in no way an unambiguous mandate from the American people.

Sen. Specter, who clearly considers his appointment to replace Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee a sure thing, said he would oppose any of President Bush's appointments of pro-life judges to the Supreme Court. As Chairman, Sen. Specter would largely control the confirmation process for the President's judicial nominees.

"If you have a race that is won by a percent or two, you have a narrowly divided country, and that's not a traditional mandate," Specter said, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer. "President Bush will have that very much in mind."

Specter has the job, which commences in January, unless there are objections from within the Republican Party. "The number-one item on my agenda is to try to move the party to the center," he said. "I want to focus on the politics of inclusion."

A number of conservative groups, including the Concerned Women for America, are calling on conservative Americans to contact their Republican Senators, and especially Senate majority leader Bill Frist to voice their disapproval of Specter. Concerned Women for America's Jan LaRue said Sen. Specter disqualified himself from chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee when he promised to use a litmus test for judicial appointments.

"Sen. Specter has repeatedly made it clear that he will block appointments of federal judges who do not pass his pro-abortion litmus test," said LaRue. "It goes without saying that it is absolutely unacceptable to use 'specter vision' to critique judicial nominees. President Bush says his only litmus test for judges is whether they will interpret the law and not write it. Sen. Specter is openly opposed to the president and the Constitution on this."

In a letter sent today to Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) and all the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, CWA expressed the following concerns: "Sen. Specter has dismissed as 'unlikely' the notion that he would allow a nominee who does not support the manifestly unconstitutional Roe v. Wade decision to be confirmed to the Supreme Court. Sen. Specter has signaled in advance that he does not intend to conduct the Judiciary Committee in a fair and impartial manner. Therefore, he has disqualified himself from consideration for that position.

Bishop Rene Henry Gracida of Corpus Christi, Texas, in an e-mail appeal to conservative Americans said, "Specter voted against the confirmation of Judge Bork and the impeachment of President Clinton. He is supported by NARAL. He must not become the next Chairman."

"Before January Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist will pick the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee," Bishop Gracida's letter continues, "Specter has the seniority that would normally entitle him to be named the Chairman. But, Senator Bill Frist has the power to waive the Senate Rules and appoint someone else as Chairman. Arlen Specter MUST NOT become the Chairman and be in a position to negate all that has been accomplished in the election of President Bush. Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their Country."

Following on the massive outcry against his warning against pro-life nominees, Sen. Specter realized that he had tipped his hand too early and is now trying to backpeddle. His anti-life biases are now on the table, however, and he is doomed to reap the consequences of his loose-lipped comments.

Send a message to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
telephone: (202-224-3344)
Email:
Mail: 461 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
FAX (202-228-1264)

Bishop Gracida suggests the following letter to Senator Frist: "Senator Arlen Specter must not be appointed Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. You have the power to waive the Senate seniority rule and to appoint someone else. Do not let the election victory of President Bush be endangered by the appointment of Senator Specter who has already warned the President not to appoint conservative judges."

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