The Unacceptable Arlen Specter

Population Research Institute ^ | 05 November 2004 | Joseph A. D'Agostino

[St. Johann Tetzel]

Dear Friends,

As you may well have heard by now, Senator Arlen Specter (RINO-Pennsylvania) celebrated President Bush's victory by announcing that he plans to impose what amounts to a pro-abortion litmus test on judicial nominees to the highest court in the land. On the day after the president's victory - delivered by moral values voters no less! - Specter "bluntly warned newly-re-elected President Bush … against putting forth Supreme Court nominees who would seek to overturn abortion rights or are otherwise too conservative to win confirmation." (AP, 11/3/04).

Concerned Women for America (CWA) responded by sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee) saying "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."

Senator Specter is in full "spin mode" trying desperately to say he didn't mean what he said. Which is the public to believe, Senator Specter's flip or his flop? Clearly, he cannot be trusted. As CWA chief counsel Jan LaRue told today's Washington Post, "he's a desperate man trying to pull himself out of a hole he dug himself into."

Take Action

Your help is needed. Please call or email Republican senators - they are the ones who will ultimately vote on who becomes chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Contact information is below)

Also, call the Senate Switchboard at 202.224.3121 to leave a message for the newly elected Republican senators.

All you have to say is: "Senator Specter has disqualified himself from the chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee. Please do all you can to make sure he is not in that influential position."

Every court in the land desperately needs judges who will abide by the Constitution, who will stop making laws. America needs to be governed by the rule of law, not the whim of judges. President Bush is committed to that vision. Clearly, Senator Specter has chosen the opposite vision.

Here are helpful links with more information:

AP with Specter's comments: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/ELN_SPECTER_SUPREME_COURT?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Today's Washington Post clipping: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26471-2004Nov4.html

CWA's letter to Senator Frist: http://www.cwfa.org/images/content/fristspecterletter.pdf

CWA's press release: http://www.cwfa.org/articles/6696/MEDIA/freedom/index.htm

CWA Commentary by chief counsel Jan LaRue: http://www.cwfa.org/articles/6690/LEGAL/scourt/index.htm

Republican Senators List

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) (202) 224-6665 Sen. Ted Stevens (AK) (202) 224-3004 Sen. Jeff Sessions (AL) (202) 224-4124 Sen. Richard Shelby (AL) (202) 224-5744 Sen. Jon Kyl (AZ) (202) 224-4521 Sen. John McCain (AZ) (202) 224-2235 Sen. Wayne Allard (CO) (202) 224-5941 Sen.-Elect Mel Martinez (FL) 202-224-3121 Sen. Saxby Chambliss (GA) (202) 224-3521 Sen.-Elect Johnny Isakson (GA) 202-224-3121 Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA) (202) 224-3744 Sen. Larry Craig (ID) (202) 224-2752 Sen. Michael Crapo (ID) (202) 224-6142 Sen. Richard Lugar (IN) (202) 224-4814 Sen. Sam Brownback (KS) (202) 224-6521 Sen. Pat Roberts (KS) (202) 224-4774 Sen. Jim Bunning (KY) (202) 224-4343 Sen. Mitch McConnell (202) 224-2541 Sen.-Elect David Vitter (LA) 202-224-3121 Sen. Susan Collins (ME) (202) 224-2523 Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME) (202) 224-5344 Sen. Norm Coleman (MN) (202) 224-5641 Sen. Christopher Bond (MO) (202) 224-5721 Sen. Jim Talent (MO) (202) 224-6154 Sen. Thad Cochran (MS) (202) 224-5054 Sen Trent Lott (MS) (202) 224-6253 Sen. Conrad Burns (MT) (202) 224-2644 Sen.-Elect Richard Burr (NC) (202) 224-3121 Sen Elizabeth Dole (NC) (202) 224-6342 Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE) (202) 224-4224 Sen. Judd Gregg (NH) (202) 224-3324 Sen. John Sununu (NH) (202) 224-2841 Sen. Pete Domenici (NM) (202) 224-6621 Sen. John Ensign (NV) (202) 224-6244 Sen. Mike DeWine (OH) (202) 224-2315 Sen. George Voinovich (OH) (202) 224-3353 Sen.-Elect Tom Coburn (OK) (202) 224-3121 Sen. James Inhofe (OK) (202) 224-4721 Sen. Gordon Smith (OR) (202) 224-3753 Sen. Rick Santorum (PA) (202) 224-6324 Sen. Arlen Specter (PA) (202) 224-4254 Sen. Lincoln Chafee (RI) (202) 224-2921 Sen.-Elect Jim DeMint (SC) (202) 224-3121 Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC) (202) 224-5972 Sen.-Elect John Thune (SD) (202) 224-3121 Sen. Lamar Alexander (TN) (202) 224-4944 Sen. Bill Frist (TN) (202) 224-3344 Sen. John Cornyn (TX) (202) 224-2934 Sen. Kay Hutchison (TX) (202) 224-5922 Sen. Robert Bennett (UT) (202) 224-5444 Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT) (202) 224-5251 Sen. George Allen (VA) (202) 224-4024 Sen. John Warner (VA) (202) 224-2023 Sen. Craig Thomas (WY) (202) 224-6441 Sen. Michael Enzi (WY) (202) 224-3424

Sincerely,

The Legislation Department Concerned Women for America

[Always Right]

This thing is not going to die. If enough people keep contacting their GOP Senators, Specter may be out. And Specter can only blame himself for opening his trap.

[Aetius]

What is the point of having a 55 seat majority in the Senate if the GOP is not going to take advantage of it? These comments by Specter make him unacceptable for chairmanship of the Judiciary Committe.

He obviously has no loyalty to the President who helped him win a tough primary challenge against a true conservative. This is how he repays him and the party that stood by him!

Of course this points to a bigger problem of how a Presidential power of appointment -- subject to Senate approval -- can be held hostage by a committee made up of less than 20% of the Senate.

All Presidential nominees should have an up or down vote from the full Senate. If that were so then it wouldn't matter if this clown were the committee chairman.

[kingattax]

this is a good site..PLEASE email Repub senators, VOTE NO SPECTER.....


http://www.notspecter.com/index.php?p=5

[Prime Choice]

As you may well have heard by now, Senator Arlen Specter (RINO-Pennsylvania) celebrated President Bush's victory by announcing that he plans to impose what amounts to a pro-abortion litmus test on judicial nominees to the highest court in the land.

Yep. Heard about it. And I'm going to do all I can to see that Specter is tossed out on his ear. America cannot waste the Bush Mandate on RINOs like that jackass.

[truthandlife]

Signed it

[kingattax]

thanks and GOD bless you

[torkmonstr]

I think it is time , after a bid re-election win that Pres Bush remind the house and senate that they can help confirm the judges sent before them, or through executive order, the President can appoint them himself.

[Scholastic]

Santorum continues to run infrence for Specter. Today he was quoted as saying there is nothing that should prevent him from being Chairman.

[kingattax]

swing the hammer

[kingattax]

what does specter have on santorum ?

[Scholastic]

good question. Wish I knew!

[uncbob]

AS much as I detest Specter I don't think he will be the real problem

It will be the MSM who will attack endlessly any conservative Bush tries to appoint

They will go back to his/her kindergarten days for dirt

Bush may stand behind his nominee

BUT HOW MANY POTENTIAL NOMINEES WILL WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS VICIOUS SMEAR CAMPAIGN THAT THE MSM IS SURE TO MOUNT

That will be the real problem

[Cedar]

"what does specter have on santorum ?"

Good question! I am shocked at Santorum once again....please, somebody who knows Santorum, can you explain him for us?

[kingattax]

lets ALL email Sen Santorum and ask him why in the world as a "pro-life" man he would in ANY way be supportive of the old abortionist specter.


http://santorum.senate.gov/emailrjs.html

[Cedar]

Thanks for the link. Just emailed him.

[kingattax]

thanks....GOD bless you

[gaspar]

Specter rode Ronald Reagan's coattails to get into office and then spent the next eight years distancing himself from the President. The man is a swine.

[LincolnLover]

I know it's Monday Morning Quarterbacking, but I can't help but think that, if this level and intensity of effort was made on the part of non-Pennsylvania-based conservatives to back Pat Toomey, we wouldn't be having this problem.

I'm pointing the finger at myself as well on this one, but the fault *really* lies with the national party. Every stinking time---well, except for David Duke---that the national party comes down against a good candidate for the sake of protecting a crappy incumbent, they do wrong, it seems (e.g., Ron Paul).

[Happy2BMe]

Senator Specter has an Agenda — Liberal Judges

“President Bush ran forthrightly on a clear agenda for this nation’s future, and the nation responded by giving him a mandate.” – Remarks by Vice President Cheney introducing President Bush for his victory speech, Ronald Reagan Building, November 3, 2004.

President Bush’s margin of victory proves that we “have a narrowly divided country, and that’s not a traditional mandate…the number-one item on my agenda is to try to move the party to the center.” – Sen. Arlen Specter, November 3, 2004.

Senator Arlen Specter's shocking comments the day after President Bush's decisive re-election raise troubling concersn

• SIGN THE PETITION

  Specter denied the legitimacy of President Bush’s historic mandate.
  
  
• Specter announced a pro-abortion litmus test for the president’s judicial nominees. Specter claims that Roe v. Wade is “inviolate” and insists that “nobody can be confirmed today who does not agree with it.”
  
  
• Specter’s illegal litmus test would disqualify all constitutionalist nominees from serving on the Supreme Court of the United States and the lower federal courts.
  
  
• Specter’s illegal litmus test demands that all nominees violate the canons of judicial ethics by announcing or pledging how they will vote in a particular case.
  
  
• Specter will not promise to support the President’s nominees. Instead, he merely “hopes” that he can support them. The day after the election, when a reporter asked Specter if he would support the president’s nominees, the senator hesitated and equivocated: “I am hopeful that I’ll be able to do that. That obviously depends upon the president’s judicial nominees. I’m hopeful that I can support them.”
  
  
• Specter criticized President Bush’s first-term judicial nominees: “The nominees whom I supported in committee, I had reservations on.”
  
  
• Specter insulted Janice Rogers Brown, president Bush’s nominee to the important U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. Specter referred to Brown, a distinguished conservative and the first African American woman to serve on the California Supreme Court, as “the woman judge out of California” who he had reservations about.
  
  
• Specter insulted the entire Supreme Court of the United States, including Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justices Scalia and Thomas. When a reporter asked Specter “Are you saying that there is not greatness” on the Supreme Court, Specter replied: “Yes. Can you take yes for an answer?”
  
  
• Specter’s comments reveal that, like Sen. Kerry and Sen. Daschle, Specter favors judges who follow politics and popular opinion, not the Constitution and the rule of law.
  
  
• Specter accused President Bush of ignoring the Senate’s advise and consent role: “The Constitution has a clause called advise and consent, the advise part is traditionally not paid a whole lot of attention to, I wouldn’t say quite ignored, but close to that.”
  
  
• Specter wants to encroach upon the president’s appointment power. Obstructionist Democrats filibustered ten of President Bush’s appeals court nominees. Now Specter wants the Senate to become MORE involved in judicial appointments: “My hope is that the Senate will be more involved in expressing our views.”

Specter's record over the last 20 years demonstrated a pattern of very troubling conduct on Judiciary Committee issues

• SIGN THE PETITION

  Specter fought against the distinguished Judge Robert H. Bork, betraying President Reagan and his fellow Republicans.
  
  
• Specter voted against Judge Bork on the judiciary committee, and against Bork’s confirmation on the Senate floor. By joining liberal Democratic senators and radical left-wing groups in their opposition to Judge Bork, Specter gave those groups aid and comfort, and was instrumental in Judge Bork’s defeat.
  
  
• Judge Bork warned Americans that Specter does not understand the Constitution and that Specter, along with Senate Democrats “professed horror at the thought that a judge must limit his rulings to the principles in the actual Constitution.”
  
  
• President Ronald Reagan called the left-wing assault against Judge Bork “an unprecedented political attack” on a Supreme Court nominee and “a tragedy for our country.” Specter rebuffed President Reagan’s plea to support Judge Bork.
  
  
• Specter helped defeat the nomination of conservative Jeff Sessions for a federal judgeship.
  
  
• Specter warned filibustered appeals court nominee William Pryor that just because he voted for him on the committee did not mean that he would vote on the Senate floor for his confirmation.
  
  
• The “National Review” exposed Specter as “The Worst Republican Senator” in a prominent September 1, 2003 cover story. According to “National Review,” Specter “is not a team player…is an abortion rights absolutist, a dogged advocate of racial preferences, a bitter foe of tax reform, a firm friend of the International Criminal Court.”
  
  
• Specter refuses to support the elevation of Justice Clarence Thomas to Chief Justice: “I’d have to think about that,” Specter equivocated. Ditto for Justice Antonin Scalia: “I’d have to think about that too.” Specter once slandered Justice Thomas as a “disappointment.”

The Chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee must be someone devoted to the Constitution as written and the rule of law

• SIGN THE PETITION

  The situation is urgent. Chief Justice Rehnquist is gravely ill. A Supreme Court vacancy is imminent.
  
  
• President Bush may be called upon to nominate a Supreme Court justice within the next several weeks.
  
  
• Court watchers predict as many as three Supreme Court vacancies during President Bush’s second term.
  
  
• President Bush will likely have a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to return the Supreme Court to constitutionalist principles.
  
  
• The President needs as chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee a loyal, reliable, conservative partner who will shepherd his nominees through the confirmation process.
  
  
• Under intense political pressure, Specter tried to recant portions of his post-election statements the day after he uttered them. That means nothing. His 20-year record of party disloyalty and tormenting conservative nominees means everything.
  
  
• As chairman, Specter will act as a vexatious intermeddler, second-guessing President Bush’s Supreme Court and lower court nominations. This imperils the President’s legacy.
  
  
• Under the Senate’s seniority rules, Specter is slated to take over the Judiciary Committee, but under Senate rules and procedures, he can be stopped from becoming committee chairman.
  
  
• The window of opportunity to stop Specter is limited. Once he becomes chairman, it will be impossible to unseat him.