Conservatives work to deflect Specter
Washington Times
Interesting conundrum for the conservative Republicans. I wonder if Specter would prefer to be a judge?
Sen. Arlen Specter's prospects of becoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee if he wins a fourth Senate term in Pennsylvania is making him a target of some conservatives.
"You put a person like that in charge of the Judiciary Committee, and we won't see many of President Bush's nominees get through," says Connie Mackey of the Family Research Council. "With regard to social issues, he is a poster child of NARAL and NOW."
NARAL Pro-Choice America, formerly the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, and the National Organization for Women are two leading abortion-rights groups and vigorously lobby the Judiciary Committee to defeat conservative judicial nominees.
Because of Republican-imposed term limits on chairmanships, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah is expected to relinquish his committee position after the 2004 elections. Based on seniority, Mr. Specter is the next Republican in line. He will inherit a deeply divided committee, which is the venue of some of the Senate's most bitter, partisan fights over issues such as abortion and homosexual "marriage."
