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Pro-Life Judges Opposed by Moderate Republicans

With "moderate" Republicans supporting abortion, pro-life advocates will continue to face an uphill battle in congress. Although many assume that President Bush will appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court, he has plainly stated that he does not have a litmus test for judicial nominees. This position may be motivated by the gate keepers in congress that limit the president's influence on the Supreme Court through the judicial approval process and who are keenly sensitive to an agenda that undermines Roe v. Wade (articles here and here). For pro-lifers, this underscores the necessity of grassroots efforts that plainly communicate the inalienable right-to-life to congressional representatives.

Plug: If you own a blog, are pro-life and blog about these issues get your message out by joining ProLifeBlogs.

The following article reports Specter's warning to Bush about pro-life judicial nominees.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Republican expected to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee next year bluntly warned newly re-elected President Bush on Wednesday against putting forth Supreme Court nominees who would seek to overturn abortion rights or are otherwise too conservative to win confirmation.

Sen. Arlen Specter, fresh from winning a fifth term in Pennsylvania, also said the current Supreme Court now lacks legal "giants" on the bench.

"When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think that is unlikely," Specter said, referring to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

"The president is well aware of what happened, when a number of his nominees were sent up, with the filibuster," Specter added, referring to Senate Democrats' success over the past four years in blocking the confirmation of many of Bush's conservative judicial picks. "... And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning."

[More from AP]

Update from Reuters: But Specter said in a statement issued in Washington on Thursday, "Contrary to press accounts, I did not warn the president about anything and was very respectful of his constitutional authority on the appointment of federal judges." [I hate to say it, but doesn't this sound a lot like John Kerry?]

Others Blogging on this topic:

Lee Warren writes, "President Bush and Rick Santorum campaigned for Specter–the pro-abortion candidate who was in line to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee if the Republicans held the Senate in the 2004 election... if Arlen Specter blocks any pro-life judges from being voted upon in the Senate simply because they are pro-life, then George Bush and Rick Santorum are just as responsible for the continued murder of the unborn in our country as Specter is.

Pro-Life With Christ: Pray for justice for the unborn

JoyfulChristian: It's truly mind-boggling, but not only does Arlen Specter seem poised to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee, but he's already hinting he might block conservative judges. This is the thanks Bush gets for endorsing Specter.

BlogsforBush: I urge everyone to call or e mail their Senators stating their opinions on whether or not someone as overtly liberal as Senator Specter should become Chairman of the Judiciary Committee - my view is that he should not but at the very least we should at least let him and the rest of the Republican Senate know that we want no more pussy-footing around on this: we elected a conservative Republican President partially so we can get judges who actually enforce the laws, not make up laws to suit their personal opinions.

Countertop-Chronicles: The recommended course of action, contacting Bill Frist.

Posted by tim at November 4, 2004 12:05 PM

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