Specter Watch: 'Riding Two Horses and Fell from Both'     11/15/2004

Washington, D.C. - Concerned Women for America (CWA) says Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pennsylvania) continues to show why he should not hold the reins as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Specter appeared Sunday morning on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos to "debate" Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York), fellow Judiciary Committee member, on subjects including chairmanship of the committee, continuing use of the filibuster by Democrats to oppose President Bush's judicial nominees and the chances of Justice Clarence Thomas being elevated to chief justice of the Supreme Court.

"In his book, Passion for Truth, Specter says Judge Robert Bork's 'significant and sundry shifts from prior positions looked like a confirmation conversion' and that 'Bork tried to ride two horses and fell from both.' It's obvious that Specter's own 'significant and sundry shifts' from his November 3 statement have left his horses riderless," said Jan LaRue, CWA's chief counsel.

"Specter appeared nervous, equivocating and unable to answer Stephanopoulos' questions. Schumer dominated him on a split-screen TV show. It was a foretaste of Specter's inability to stand up to Democrat obstructionism on the committee," LaRue added.

"Instead of strongly supporting Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tennessee), who will push for a Senate rule change to stop Democrats from continuing to filibuster judicial nominees, Specter said they ought to try first the 'moderate solutions' of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California).

"After reminding us once again of his support of Clarence Thomas to join the Supreme Court, Specter dodged Stephanopoulos' question about Thomas becoming the chief justice. Thomas has a record as a justice of the Court, yet Specter couldn't bring himself to say anything positive about him," LaRue commented.

"Specter reiterated his claim that he has 'no litmus test for judicial nominees.' But, in his book, he says, 'In my judgment, the Senate should resist, if not refuse, to confirm Supreme Court nominees who refuse to answer questions on fundamental issues.' The more he tries to 'clarify' himself, the clearer it becomes that he can't be trusted with the reins of this important committee," LaRue concluded.

Concerned Women for America is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.

For Information Contact:
Valerie Mosher
(202) 488-7000
media.cwfa.org

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