Posted on 10/10/2005 5:06:33 PM PDT by RWR8189
WASHINGTON — Focus on the Family founder James Dobson will take to the airwaves Wednesday and Thursday to clarify what information he got from the White House or other sources about U.S. Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers.
Dobson has faced a barrage of media attention in recent days because he has tentatively endorsed Miers just as other conservatives or evangelical Christian leaders have expressed doubts about her qualifications and concern about the lack of a paper trial outlining her views.
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have said they might call Dobson to testify at Miers' upcoming confirmation hearings because of his statements implying he has confidential information about the nominee.
Last week, Dobson told listeners to his Christian-oriented radio program: "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 he spoke to President Bush's lead political adviser, Karl Rove, prior to the Miers nomination, although he has not said what they discussed.
That has raised concern among some U.S. senators, including Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., who say the White House should tell lawmakers whatever Dobson was told.
Focus on the Family spokesman Paul Hetrick said Monday that Dobson plans to address the Miers nomination again in a two-part broadcast scheduled to air on Wednesday and Thursday.
"What he knows about her so far he likes, and enough to endorse her," Hetrick said. "Like all of us, he'd like to know more."
He said Dobson is looking forward to hearing Miers testify at the upcoming hearings, but that the committee has not yet asked him to appear.
On Sunday, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said on the ABC network's "This Week" broadcast that if there are "backroom assurances" or "backroom deals" about how a nominee is going to vote, "I think that's a matter that ought to be known by the judiciary committee and the American people."
Questions over what Dobson knows prompted the judiciary committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., to ask Miers last week whether she had told anyone how she would vote on any specific cases. She reportedly told Leahy: "I will be my own person. I will be independent. Nobody has the authority or right or ability to tell how I'm going to vote."
Dobson is a longtime opponent of abortion and has said he hopes the Supreme Court soon will reverse its landmark 1973 decision that cemented abortion rights. He said he believes Miers is against abortion, but in last week's broadcast added: "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."
Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family is one of the most prominent Christian media empires in the world, with Dobson's regular radio commentaries aired on 3,500 outlets in the United States.
Hetrick said Dobson has received more than 100 media interview requests since he offered a tentative endorsement of Miers while other conservatives expressed skepticism.
"He feels that enough time has passed, and enough has been said in the media that he feels he can make some additional comments to any who are interested, especially to our constituents," Hetrick said.
"Our constituents, just as everyone else in the country, are consumers of news. He would want them to have perhaps a more complete understanding of what they may be reading in the news."
sprengelmeyerm@shns.com
Focus on the Family broadcast information can be found at: www.family.org/fmedia/radiolog/index.cfm
How dare you smear a fine man like Dr Dobson.
Yes, there have been some very curious posts on FR lately from supposed "conservatives." There was another thread earlier today about promiscuous sexual behavior in the military, and posters were acting like it was no big deal, and saying that it was okay to pass out condoms to soldiers. I was astounded.
Someone can be a good Christian (and even a good psychologist) and still not have much political sense.
The drama will get quite exciting on this nominee.
He's doing irreparable harm to the Republican Party. He should stay in the church and focus on religion, not meddle in politics.
You are right. Dobson isn't one of them!! He will right any wrongs, which is the making of a real man!!
Reconcile that with your tag line.
Actually Dobson probably speaks on behalf of the base.!! It was the Conservative Christian right that WON the election for the Republicans in 2000!!! If the Republican party swings to the middle, they will then see WHO their base really is.......
"Father forgive them for they know not what they say."
Bingo. I am shocked at how many FReepers have no clue who brought us to this dance. And I am amazed at how many FReepers have no clue how politically influential Dobson is. Anyone who thinks conservatives can win without the Religious Right can ask John McCain how well he did in the South Carolina primary.
ping
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