Alleged conversations between Senior White House Advisor Karl Rove and Christian Conservative James Dobson may wind up costing Harriet Miers a seat on the Supreme Court.
Ironic, isn't it? Rove was trying to help President Bush by landing a key endorsement from Dobson, a prominent Christian conservative.
On the Oct. 5 edition of his Focus on the Family radio show, Dobson discussed "confidential conversations" he had with friends and supporters of Miers — conversations that led him to believe Miers was against abortion rights. In the same show, Dobson offered endorsed Miers' nomination.
The Christian Science Monitor later reported that Dobson supported Miers after "extensive lobbying by the White House," while the New York Sun said White House senior adviser Karl Rove did the convincing. Paul Weyrich, founder of the Free Congress Foundation and one of the capital's leading conservatives, said Rove placed four telephone calls on Oct. 2 or 3 to Dobson.
Not surprisingly, the "confidential conversations" didn't sit well with Senators from both parties who sit on the Judiciary Committee.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the senior Democrat on the Committee, said Miers had told him she'd made no promises as to how she'd vote on any issue that might come before the court, including Roe v. Wade.
"If assurances were given of how any nominee, whether this nominee or anybody else, and somebody gives assurances how they're going to vote in an upcoming case, I would vote against that person,'' Leahy told ABC's This Week.
Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) said he will investigate whether Rove gave Dobson assurances.
"If Dr. Dobson knows something that he shouldn't know or something that I ought to know, I'm going to find out," he said on This Week. "The Senate Judiciary Committee is entitled to know whatever the White House knew."
Article comments
1 - Nancy
I wish him luck; this administration has been proven to be extraordinarily blatant when it comes to stonewalling info they don't want to give out.
2 - MSchannon
Such a coincidence--last night on "West Wing," the Republican presidential nominee made the same promise to a right-win religious fanatic who promptly leaked it to the media.
That's why Parodies are Lost!
It's not even fun to pick on this administration any more. I'm just gonna wait for the next one...or pick on the French. It's probably all their fault anyway.
In Jameson's Veritas
3 - Silas Kain
Dobson plans on using his radio show on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the Rove/Miers matter. Talk about a media frenzy! They're all over him like flies on the manure he is. His ratings will soar as he does into sweeps. The man ain't stupid, folks. He's a savvy businessman who puts himself first. Not only should the Senate drag his ass before them, but Rove should be dragged in as well. This is yet another example of how Karl Rove has managed White House politics.
4 - David R. Mark
See this update.
5 - S
Im too scared to say anything!!