Posted on 10/13/2005 1:15:06 PM PDT by indianrightwinger
U.S.: Miers Won't Withdraw Top Court Nod Oct 13 3:31 PM US/Eastern Email this story
WASHINGTON
The White House on Thursday dismissed the possibility that Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers might withdraw if she encounters heavy fire in her Senate confirmation and suggested her nomination was becoming embroiled in "side issues like religion."
Asked if there were any circumstances under which she would ask that her name be withdrawn, presidential spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters: "No one that knows her would make such a suggestion."
"And no one that knows her record and her qualifications would make such a suggestion," McClellan said.
Conservative critics have complained that Miers lacks a clear judicial philosophy and have questioned whether she is the best-qualified nominee, given that she has never been a judge and has little public record.
President Bush and White House officials have sought to reassure conservatives by emphasizing Miers' evangelical faith. "Part of Harriet Miers' life is her religion," Bush said on Wednesday.
Yet in a combative exchange with reporters, McClellan on Thursday said: "You all want to focus on side issues like religion."
"We've always talked about her record and her qualifications," McClellan said.
"And I think that we are doing a disservice for the American people when we focus on other issues and not her record and qualifications and experience, because that's what matters when you're on the nation's highest court," McClellan added.
Miers, 60, currently serves as White House counsel. She is a former Dallas corporate lawyer and was once Bush's personal lawyer.
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Whenever someone announces that he will NOT withdraw, he usually does: witness the hapless Trent Lott of MS in 2002.
I did not have sex with that woman...Ms. Lewinski.
Just saw this...
This is unsubstantiated, but from good sources. Far be it for me to avoid passing on the juicy stuff.
The rumor is that several senators have begun attempts to send the message to the White House that Miers should be withdrawn. They are bypassing Andy Card. Also, the Senior Senator from South Carolina is rumored to have started up the Karen Williams drumbeat as a replacement candidate.
http://www.confirmthem.com/?p=1586
Floating a trial balloon?
I suspect Mier's will neither snivel nor cower. That's my prediction, obviously I've been wrong before.
Per some reports yesterday, as many as half the GOP Judiciary Committee members are opposing Miers. If they are joined by a few Dems, Miers may not even get out of Committee.
>Yet in a combative exchange with reporters, McClellan on
>Thursday said: "You all want to focus on side issues like >religion."
I've only seen her supporters bring her religious beliefs up, offering her evangelical Christianity as evidence that she is conservative.
>"We've always talked about her record and her >qualifications," McClellan said.
...or her lack thereof. Same here.
The folks at ConfirmThem are hittin' the pipe hard these days.
Bush would have to be a blithering idiot to withdraw this nomination under pressure from the beltway putz's....the only way this can be done is for Miers to withdraw.
This is a lot of BS from the "we know it all" BLOGERS. Stay the course W... and I'm betting on Bush, cause he is right.
Miers did not announce it.
You didn't? Can't say I blame you.
What Record?
What Qualifications?
What Experience?
None of these are public knowledge so what does he expect people to talk about? How does she feel about Amendment this or Article that? No one knows, so we're supposed to just talk about her religion being a big part of her life? I still can't get over what a crock this nomination is.
The best way is for them to follow the Constitutional procedure and let the hearings begin. Then the Senate will vote and she will either be confirmed or not.
The extra-Constitutional step of "polling the pundits" is not part of the steps dictated. As elite Constitutional heavyweights and scholars they should know that.
Would you? Neither would I.
They are not opposing Miers, they have not expressed their support yet, and some have expressed concerns.
There is no republican senator on record at this time as a "no" vote for Miers, either in the committee or for final vote.
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