Posted on 10/07/2005 1:34:08 PM PDT by hinterlander
WASHINGTON - An anguished James Dobson prayed Wednesday for a sign from God, telling his Christian radio listeners he was questioning his early endorsement of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers.
Dobson, founder of Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family, is one of the most prominent religious conservatives to back Miers, citing his trust in President Bush and a confidential briefing he received about her from the White House.
But in his regular radio broadcast Wednesday, Dobson prayed he was not making a mistake.
"Lord, you know I don't have the wisdom to make this decision," Dobson said. "You know that what I feel now and what I think is right may be dead wrong."
He added that he worried that his position "could do something to hurt the cause of Christ, and I'd rather sacrifice my life than do that."
Dobson's "agonized heart," as he called it, is a sign of continuing turmoil in the religious conservative movement over the selection of Miers, a longtime confidante of Bush who has never been a judge and therefore has no paper trail detailing her views.
Many evangelicals, including Dobson, see the pick to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as critical because O'Connor was viewed as a swing vote on contentious issues like abortion.
For more than 30 years, Dobson has waged a crusade to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. He said he believes Miers is against abortion, based on talks with her longtime friends and other information.
He also confirmed reports that he received a special briefing from Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove, but still will not discuss the talks in detail.
"When you know some of the things I know - that I probably shouldn't know - that take me in this direction, you'll know why I've said with fear and trepidation (that) I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice," Dobson said in a broadcast with co-host John Fuller.
"And John, if I have made a mistake here, I will never forget it. The blood of those babies who will die will be on my hands to a degree. Lord, if I am right, confirm it, and if I am wrong, chastise me and I will repent of it and come before these microphones."
In a press conference Tuesday, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Denver, demanded that the White House give senators whatever information it gave Dobson.
He's not the only one who wants to know the secret.
Dobson said his phone has been ringing off the hook from congressional allies and fellow conservatives seeking reassurance heading into Miers' upcoming confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Some are wary because Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, suggested her name to the president, and because of other hints that have emerged from her record.
Although she contributed funds to President Bush's election, she also has given to Democrats, including Al Gore in 1988.
When she ran for Dallas City Council in 1989, she signed a questionnaire for a gay rights group saying she supported equal civil rights for lesbians and gays. But she also said she was not seeking the group's endorsement and that she opposed a repeal of a law banning sodomy.
On Wednesday, conservative columnist George Will said if 100 capable legal analysts each listed 100 people worthy of being nominated, "Miers' name probably would not have appeared in any of the 10,000 places on those lists."
And the Web site of the Dobson- founded Family Research Council showed a question mark alongside Miers' picture.
Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers were taking a wait-and-see approach to Miers.
"I just don't know her," Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Wednesday. "I'm not going to jump out there and say this is a wonderful choice."
Dobson, who heads one of the largest Christian media empires, said he doesn't want to overestimate his own influence, although countless national media outlets already have quoted him as being in Miers' corner.
"Yeah right, we are so unhappy with President Bush's pick of ...whatever Miers is center right, far right - who knows so we are going to vote for a Dem so they can put more Breyers and Ginsbergs on the court. That makes sense (sarcasm)."
At least we know a Democrap Prez would in fact pick proven leftist moutpieces like the ACLU lawyer Ginsberg. You have to given them credit for that.
Then why would anybody in the world wait around for, or pay attention to, what he'd claim is a "sign from God"? What if he just retreats to the den with a double Scotch to read email for an hour or two, then comes back out with his claimed "sign"?
Much too oooga-boooga; Dobson is irrelevent to the issue. The problem is that a politician is once again asking us to just trust him, with no evidence to go on.
She's toast.
I've never heard of the Professor, and I never said "no one knows she's a dark horse" - at least ONE PERSON does (again, the definition of "dark horse" ; )
Please list the 51 Senators you know will vote for the rules change.
I would hope no "willies" then ; )
Executive privilege prevents such answering to questions. The Democrats will not get answers and they know it. They will try, but get nothing.
You know that Senator Hatch "pre-approved" her name for Clinton, right?
Counterpunch is trying his / her best to avoid those points.
You would also have to live with the results of such a selection. No, I'll be voting Republican. There is no alternative. Actually I like President Bush and think Miers will be a fine justice. I am far more concerned about imigration myself. I can not understand why people are so worked up...one thing for sure this woman is not a leftist.
Dobson is a very powerful force in politics. I am not suggesting there is anything wrong with that or trying to argue the point with you, but it is an obvious, well known fact.
Since Miers has no proven record as a conservative judge, then by definition she cannot and is not a dark horse. You think Bush think's or believes she will be a conservative judge if she gets on the court. That is a TBD.
You really ought to check out the Professor. You might learn something. [;o)
She will be confirmed-just wait.
Uuuuggh! I'M getting whiplash from all this. Or is there a name for the condition where someone watches tennis all day and gets a terrible knot in their neck from their head going back and forth all day........ ''Who is Harriet Miers and why are we all saying terrible things about her.'' .......Can't we all wait and see what comes out of her mouth before she is condemned?.........And last but not least,,,'',Can't we all just get along?!''............
Wasn't YOUR definition (or is it the Professor) of "dark horse" NO PROVEN TRACK RECORD?!
I voted for Bush twice. Donated money to his campaign. Donated to the Swift Boat Vets. But I've lost faith in Bush. I voted for Reagan twice, and GHW Bush twice and, yes, even Bob Dole.
But, as for 2006, I will vote for a Republican candidate if I like him/her. I will say that under no circumstnces would I bother to go to the polls to vote for McCain or Frist, regardless of who the Democraps put up.
True, too true.
Nevertheless, eff em all anyway!
I DO hope that Dobson gets subpoened and everything that is known about Ms. Miers gets publicly aired. The public has a right to know what her judicial philosophy is.
If Dobson knows something we don't know then he also knows something the Senate Republicans don't know.
Why would this information be shared just with him alone?
Perhaps you are being premature. Why not wait for the hearings to make a judgement?
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