Posted on 11/04/2004 9:57:49 AM PST by Syco
Dear Senator Frist,
After a long and contentious fight to retain the White House and expand our majority in both houses of Congress, I am extremely dismayed by comments made by Senator Specter regarding the President's right to choose his own candidates for the nation's judiciary. After several years of stonewalling on the part of Democrats in the Senate Judiciary Committee, it is incredibly distressing to see a member of the Republican party attempting to block excellent and qualified judges from the bench because of their conservative ideology.
I am a partisan. I will continue to work for our party's success because I believe that we embody the principles that are best for the nation. But make no mistake, conservative members of the Republican party will not continue to support the GOP if a very small minority of our Senators refuse to give a fair hearing to judges who agree with the party platform.
The last election should be a wakeup call to party leadership. The single most important issue to voters was "moral values". The party did a masterful job of getting Evangelical and other Conservative voters to the polls - voters who stayed home in 2000 - largely because of the moral issues facing the nation. It would be disastrous for the party and country if these voters felt betrayed and did not return to the polls in 2006 and 2008.
Renegade judges have been legislating from the bench for decades and have recently accelerated a dangerous experiment in social engineering - whether by redefining marriage, tinkering with the Pledge of Allegiance, or ruling against late term abortion restrictions. The American people recognize this judicial tyranny for what it is, and we look to you and other members of the Senate to put a stop to it.
Senator Specter and Democrats in the Senate say that the President should not nominate candidates with a conservative ideology because they are "outside the mainstream". If that is the case, most of the country must be outside of the mainstream. The vast majority of Americans support some limits on abortion, and clearly Tuesday's results in the states voting on Marriage Amendment should prove that this country will not accept gay marriage as a government supported institution.
In light of all of this, I am writing to you to urge you to take action to remove Senator Specter from the Judiciary Committee. The idea that this man, who won a tough primary fight only with the help of the White House, could be the next Chair of the Judiciary Committee is truly frightening. Please take steps to ensure that he does not aid liberals in continuing to block the President's agenda.
I understand that this move could lead to Mr. Specter defecting to the other side. In reality Senator, he made that defection long ago. Please do what is right and help President Bush and the majority of the American people in seating solid judges, without forcing them to pass a liberal litmus test. As our majority leader, we are counting on you.
You can find links to other members of the Senate leadership at http://republican.senate.gov/
Go to it!
Specter is NOT what victory looks like. We might as well have asked Schumer to chair the committee. Souter will be the only acceptable GOP nominee for a weasal like Arlen. Maybe this will be the revenge for Bush supporting him over Toomey.
Good idea. Spector is a paranoid, liberal republican
So I'm not getting too excited over this report.
I don't agree with this at all. Why feed the MSM when all they are trying to do is respond like you are responding.
I haave already e-mailed the White House and Sen Santorum. Cannot find e-mail link to Frist, can you help
It appears the Senator is at odds with published reports of just what it was he said with regards to the Supreme court nominees.
I would suggest sending copies of the elctoral map to the Senate leadership captioned "We Are The Mainstream - America Says So."
BTW, great letter.
Living in Louisiana....To contact Lousiana's newly minted first ever conservative Senator about this issue call:
504-589-2753
Try the link at the top of the page.
Here's my letter to Frist
Even if the Philadelphia Enquirer story is blown out of proportion, which I am not convinced of, if you read Specter's own book he outlines his beliefs. Defending Roe v. Wade is his top priority. He has voted for some conservative judges before, but only because he was certain it would not negatively impact the balance and threaten his beloved Roe decision.
The spector of Specter is more than I can stomach.
I already e-mailed the President, and will follow up with letters to Frist, Cheney and Hatch.
Specter MUST go.
OK, let me say this clearly -- I don't support abortion - period end of subject.
You want to know how to sway the country in our favor, inquire within.
Don't fall into the trap. The report about what Spector said is not accurate. The Press is baiting conservatives to show the party is divided.
Because he knew there are 6 other justices who would not overturn Roe v. Wade. Read Specters book, he is very clear he would not support any of these if the court was endangered of overturning Roe v. Wade. Specter is a snake and should not be in charge of the Judiciary Committee. Specter will do whatever possible to keep the court with a liberal balance. His words can not be any clearer on this subject.
I hope you're right. If you are then I'm sure that the Senate Leadership will ignore my letters and the many others that they will no doubt receive. But I seriously doubt if the report has been blown too far out of proportion. Specter has shown his liberal pedigree on more than one occassion. I don't think that it would be wise to keep him in such a powerful position.
That is true, but you also don't put the fox in charge of guarding the hen house. Letting Specter become the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee is just plain dumb.
You are falling for the MSM abortion trap. Hook line and sinker.
What's the goal?
He is not right, you are. I could dismiss today's news, and still find more than enough to know how dumb it is to have Specter as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Specter is an outspoken supported of Roe v. Wade and has the exact same litmus test that Kerry has. If there is any question that the balance of the court is threatened, Specter or Kerry will fight tooth and nail to defeat conservative judges. Specter has admitted this before.
You should have heard Specter's victory speech yesterday. He went on and on about his victory being a victory for the moderate Republicans in the party.
Forget about the fact that he squeaked by the conservative Pat Toomey in the primary (who had very little outside support and money to back him up).
I would bet that in the race against Hoffel, Specter had to get a lot of votes from Democrats in order to win. His speaks freely of his moderate views and acts like he is the one who best represents the Republican party not the likes of us.
Dear Senator Frist:
I have been informed that a terd is currently floating in the punch bowl at the victory party. I request that you act promptly to rectify the situation before too much damage occurs.
Sincrely,
Rippin in Pennsylvania
So what. Do you want to win or do you want to argue. Big difference.
Please call Sen. Frist's office to let hin know we won't put up with Specter heading Judiciary: 202-224-3344
No, but here's Frist's Phone No.: 202-224-3344
No, I am just not falling for Specters lies and deception. Judicial nominees are the Number 1 issue of many conservative voters. Specter is 180 degrees out of phase with conservatives on this. Specter's position is identical to Kerry's. If we let Specter become the Chairman of the Judiciary, we will have defeated a main reason for electing Bush. Why should the GOP have a hand in putting up the biggest obsticles for Bush's nominees? Your position makes no sense. Specter's opposition to Bush's nominees are well known.
What specter said is not important... we knew even before the election Specter is NOT a good choice to run the Judiciary committee ...
Done.
LoL... good, very good.. d;-'
My choice, I want to win not argue.
"He is not right, you are. I could dismiss today's news, and still find more than enough to know how dumb it is to have Specter as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Specter is an outspoken supported of Roe v. Wade and has the exact same litmus test that Kerry has. If there is any question that the balance of the court is threatened, Specter or Kerry will fight tooth and nail to defeat conservative judges. Specter has admitted this before."
This is correct.
Go find the Tim Carney article on Specter on National Review Online. It has all the facts on Specter's long history of being hostile to pro-lifers.
"You are falling for the MSM abortion trap. Hook line and sinker."
If you think that abortion is simply a "trap" set by the MSM, then I think you need to re-evaluate your ideals. Abortion is an incredibly important issue that literally affects the lives of millions. If we can't fight for it because the MSM might use that fight against us, then all hope is lost that sanity might return to the Judiciary.
However, please re-read the text of my letter. I only mention abortion in terms of the fight over partial birth abortion. Don't get me wrong, I think abortion-on-demand is evil and should be abolished, but abortion is only one of the issues that I think is important.
In addition to abortion issues, the SCOTUS over the next decade could decide cases that affect the definition of marriage, the place of religion in the public square, free speech rights of conservative and religious groups, the right to freely bear arms, the right of free association of various groups such as the Boy Scouts and Campus Religious Groups, etc. It is quite conceivable that they could even address free speech rights involving conservatives in Talk Radio and other media (including the internet). Activist judges who rise to the SCOTUS as staunch defenders of Roe v. Wade, would be much more likely to legislate from the bench on such issues, and their decisions would probably not be too popular here or in simliar forums. Liberal judges aren't simply interested in maintaining the status quo when it comes to abortion. They are also interested in socially re-engineering our entire society.
So in answer to your charge, no! You are the one falling for the MSM abortion trap. If we don't fight we'll never win.
No. Go to THIS THREAD and read some of the stuff that Specter has said about this in the past. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsed him solely because of his statement to them that he would not support the confirmation of pro-life judges. The San Francisco Chronicle interview DOES NOT constitute the entirety of Specter's record on this issue no matter how much damage control the Senator is desperately trying to do.
I know I'm right. I just gotta humor the poor guy.
Well written Syco. I will be making several calls today. I will also compose a letter to the editor.
But Specter prevented the borking of Thomas.
Bork's view that the Ninth Amendment does not give the federal government power to enumerate all the rights of citizens is still hated to this day by most people. Though it is true.
You make no sense. Give me one good reason to allow Specter to be in charge of the Judiciary Committee. This is dumber than making Brady the head of the NRA. I don't think you grasp what is going on here.
"No, but here's Frist's Phone No.: 202-224-3344"
I called. The women on the other end listened and then when I said I was concerned about Sen Specter becoming chairman, that I preferred Senator Kyl, she said
"oh, well why dont you call Senator Specter's office?"
I fell out of my chair and tried not to laugh and then said "well I think he wants to be Judiciary chairman.
But I dont, and I hope Senator Frist does something to gently move him aside. I dont think he is right for that position."
I tried using soft language which I regret. She seemed clueless as to my point, which suggests - NOT many are calling her! Should have used stronger language like "I AM VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO SENATOR SPECTER ...."
Not that I doubt you, just curious about just what he said (and anyway a politicians actions are more significant than his words).
He can be our ally in the abortion fight. How you say? Inquire within.
Just keep in mind I am not arguing abortion with you -- I am arguing tactics and how to ultimately win on the abortion issue. Very different things.
The MSM is not your friend.
"Bork was borked."
My point is that Specter was one of the Borkers.
If Specter hadnt done what he did, Bork would likely be on the Supreme Court.
"But Specter prevented the borking of Thomas."
After what he did to Bork, Specter got h*ll from conservatives, and did what he needed to get back in good graces for the 1992 election.
Just ask Paul Weyrich. He helped Specter out in 1992, thanks to Clarence Thomas, then got the brush-off after 1992.
The danger NOW is that Specter is getting old. Old enough
for retirement - WE HAVE NO POLITICAL LEVERAGE ON HIM NOW.
He serves without any care for the voter between now and 2010 and then retires. For most other Republicans, I'd say "great", but for him - be very afraid.
Spector and his record were re-elected.
As a representative government, Spector is a representative of the people. Like it, or not.
If you think you and others should start a blitz against him, have at it.
That capital will be needed in January to change the rules so judges can't be filibustered.
That is where the battle for pro-life judges will be won or lost.
That's odd-the young woman who answered ny call said she would refer my comments on to the Senator.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.