Senator-Elect Tom Coburn,M.D., Refuses To Take A Stand Against Chairmanship of Sen. Arlen Specter

Tulsa World ^ | November 14, 2004 | JIM MYERS

[Oklahoma 1]

Coburn opts to avoid abortion dispute

By JIM MYERS World Washington Bureau 11/14/2004

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen.-elect Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a staunch opponent of abortion rights, is refusing for now at least to weigh into a controversy over that issue that is roiling the GOP conference in the U.S. Senate.

Meanwhile, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., predicted Saturday the controversy will not be enough to deny Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"I am not happy with him. I would prefer to have someone else as chairman," Inhofe said. "I don't think anyone will oppose him (for that post)."

Inhofe said a pledge Specter made before him and 200 others at a recent meeting to give President Bush's judicial nominees a fair hearing, regardless of their views on abortion rights, along with his seniority will guarantee him the chairmanship.

If Specter does not stick to his pledge, Inhofe said, there will be enough votes to remove him later.

Coburn's refusal to pick a side in the heated debate over Specter and abortion rights may surprise some, especially his strongest supporters.

The physician-turned-politician just won a hard-fought victory for the state's open U.S. Senate seat and made abortion one of his major issues.

Coburn said at one point in the campaign he favored the death penalty for abortionists, but later clarified that statement, saying he was talking not about current law but one in the future that outlawed abortion.

Given that kind of stance, it would seem the current controversy over Specter would be tailor-made for Coburn.

"I am not going to get into that," Coburn said. "I don't want to stake out any territory right now publicly."

Specter sparked a firestorm of controversy almost immediately after Bush's re-election victory by suggesting the president's judicial nominees with anti-abortion rights views could not be confirmed.

Conservatives viewed Specter's comment as a warning to Bush, and they have launched an all-out battle to deny him that key chairmanship.

Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, a leading conservative group, described Specter's comments as "one of the most foolish and ill-considered comments that a politician has made in a long time."

"He is a problem, and he must be derailed," he said.

Dobson came to Oklahoma and campaigned for Coburn in the days leading up to the election.

Coburn, who is scheduled to be in Washington over the next few days to attend orientation sessions for new senators, said he has not sat down and looked at the controversy surrounding Specter.

"I am the senator-elect, not the senator," he said.

Coburn, who continues to work out of his Muskogee medical office, said he has not received calls from conservatives on the controversy.

Specter, who has it made it clear he will fight for the committee chairmanship, has reminded critics he has supported Bush's judicial appointments in the past, including those who disagree with the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

Other Republican senators have come to his defense, saying his chairmanship should not be denied him because of a political stance.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine., predicted any anti-Specter effort would fizzle.

"I don't think there ought to be a litmus test for judges but I also don't think there ought to be a litmus test for chairmen," Collins said.

Specter reportedly hopes to argue his own case before members of the Judiciary Committee in the coming days.

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Jim Myers (202) 484-1424 jim.myers@tulsaworld.com

[Oklahoma 1]

The best way to contact Senator-Elect Tom Coburn is by contacting the Muskogee Office at:

Phone = 918-684-4308
Fax = 918-684-4309
E-mail = info@coburnforsenate.com

[marty60]

WHOA......the media is trying to make Coburn a flash point. giving Spectre something to play off of to show he is a "moderate". Smart move on Coburn's part. don't give the lefties ANY ammunition.

[NittanyLion]

There's really nothing to be gained by taking a public stand at this point. No doubt Coburn will make his opinion known privately, which is all that should be expected.

[JLS]

Coburn coming out against someone he might not even know would not be smart. He is smart to begin open minded.

[MisterRepublican]

It must be a requirement for all Republicans to have their testicles removed once elected to the Senate.

[Magnolia]

We know the Tulsa World endorsed Brad Carson and will go to any length to create problems for Dr. Coburn. Don't fall into their trap.

[ConservativeMan55]

I'm not falling into the trap.

Dr. Coburn will make his stand when the time is appropriate. That time is not now.

[DixieOklahoma]

I believe it would probably only serve to hurt Coburn if he publically came out and condemed a senior member of the senate if nobody is running against him. But if opposition is put up against specter, Coburn would vote for it.

WE ALL need to do our best to get somebody up against the baby-killer.

[narses]

Title: GOP Sen. Specter Vows to Block Bush's Nominees
Source: newsmax
URL Source:
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/10/29/165559.shtml
Published: Oct 29, 2004
Author: newsmax
Post Date: 2004-10-29 20:42:24 by TLBSHOW
3 Comments

Recall that alleged Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, upon winning the primary, immediately backstabbed President Bush, who had campaigned for him instead of actual Republican Pat Toomey. Turns out Specter was just getting started.

We now see that the usually pro-Democrat Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsed the sharp-horned RINO in Tuesday's general election for this reason: "Before the Post-Gazette editorial board, he promised that no extremists would be approved for the bench."

What the pro-abortion Specter and pro-abortion Post-Gazette mean by "extremist" is anyone who isn't pro-abortion or who otherwise follows the U.S. Constitution instead of making up legislation from the bench.

"Even if he votes nine out of 10 times for the administration, we trust his word that the 10 percent of difference will be a brake on the worst excesses of a second Bush term, if it comes to that," the pee-yoo P-G snarled.

And there are these facts:

Arlen Specter:

Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)

Voted NO on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)

Success is near because of all the hard work we have done, but it is not yet over. The Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Times, and United Press International all covered how the offices have been flooded with calls, but we need to keep it up as the fight does not end here! Make the calls all over again on Monday.

Also note the changes to the site, all the recent press mentions will be on the Why? page, but this blog should keep you fairly up to date on the goings ons.

Mark Harris .:. 11/6/2004 Keep Up The Work

Things are going fantastic over here, as we have gotten press through the Laura Ingram Show, several state pro-life alerts, and countless conservative e-mail lists, but the fight has just begun.

The rumor on the Hill is that things are about ready to break. We just need to keep up pressure on them to make sure it happens. So keep your eyes and ears open. NotSpecter.com also has some great resources that have gone up so make sure to check it out.

Also GrassrootsPA.com has a letter written by Specter to raise money that slams the conservative wing of the party, which puts to rest any argument over how he would run the Judiciary Committee.

http://stopspecter.savethegop.com/

Lest you think this is fiction - these signs started to appear in the Philadelphia area just before the election, paid for by Arlen’s former campaign manager. This particular picture originially appeared in the Philly Daily News.

[farmfriend]

U.S. Sen.-elect Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a staunch opponent of abortion rights, is refusing for now at least to weigh into a controversy over that issue that is roiling the GOP conference in the U.S. Senate

If you are not with us then you are against us!

[Nick Danger]

Dr. Coburn will make his stand when the time is appropriate. That time is not now.

Absolutely. It's a secret ballot... in January. Specter will lose, but it won't be unanimous. That way, he'll never know for sure who voted for him, and who voted against.

[Henchman]

""I don't think there ought to be a litmus test for judges but I also don't think there ought to be a litmus test for chairmen," (Sen. (R-ME))Collins said." No Senator, it is called accountability. Specter has the litmus test, we, the voters and Republicans have a right to hold Specter ACCOUNTABLE!"

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

It's a customary procedure.

C'mon, they have to get it done if they want a pair of keys to the Senate cloakroom.

[ex-snook]

Everyone who voted for the GOP thinking they were pro-life will be constantly disappointed.

[Magnolia]

I'm not falling into the trap.

Good for you! I agree that the time is NOT now but it WILL happen. We know where Dr. Coburn stands on the central issue and he's far-sighted enough to pick his time & place. I trust him.

[Henchman]

Anyone wanting to correct Sen Susan Collins (R-ME) thought process of calling accountability a litmus test, can contact her at:

http://collins.senate.gov/low/contactemail.htm

[PianoMan]

Come on everyone, pro lifers have no better friend in the senate than Coburn...he's a rookie and they're trying to sucker him into being an even bigger target for their smear machines...let's judge by actions and not rhetoric.

[Tamzee]

YOOHOO!!!

I've already asked you to take me off your ping list. I don't like your tactics and think you are harming pro-life efforts.

[nancetx]

Personally I see no point for the senator-elect to make any comments regarding the Specter situation. He'll have his say when it comes up for a vote.

[ConservativeMan55]

I'm not going to jump on him because he's hasn't specifically addressed the issue yet.

In fact he has addressed the issue. He said he's a Senator Elect..not Senator yet.

If you followed the man during the campaign..you will find out who he really is.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1215097/posts