Meirs’ Friends Say She’d Overturn Roe
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in Abortion, Supreme CourtI certainly don’t like the sound of this John Fund commentary
First, a little from James Dobson about his conversation with Rove.
Dr. Dobson says he spoke to Mr. Rove on Oct. 2, the day before President Bush announced the nomination. Mr. Rove assured Dr. Dobson that Ms. Miers was an evangelical Christian and a strict constructionist, and said that Justice Hecht, a longtime friend of Ms. Miers who’d helped her join an evangelical church in 1979, could provide background. Later that day, a personal friend of Dr. Dobson’s in Texas called him and suggested he speak with Judge Kinkeade, a friend of Ms. Miers’s for decades.Dr. Dobson says he was surprised to learn that Messrs. Hecht and Kinkeade were joining the Arlington Group call. He was asked to introduce them, which he considered awkward, given that he’d never spoken to the former and only once to the latter. He introduced them, nonetheless, by saying, “Karl Rove suggested that we talk with these gentlemen because they can confirm specific reasons why Harriet Miers might be a better candidate than some of us think.”
And then, the bombshell:
What followed was a free-wheeling discussion about many topics, including same-sex marriage. Justice Hecht said he’d never discussed that issue with Ms. Miers. Then an unidentified voice asked the two men, “Based on your personal knowledge of her, if she had the opportunity, do you believe she would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade?” “Absolutely,” said Judge Kinkeade. “I agree with that,” said Justice Hecht. “I concur.”
This is much more than Justice Hecht has said before.
…Hecht has promised that Miers opposes abortion and has given money to the pro-life cause. I called him to ask if he remembered discussing his opinion in the Texas abortion cases with her. Hecht said they’d probably “talked more about the dynamic on the court” than about the substance of the opinions. “I don’t remember if I asked her if she thought I was right. But if I had, she probably would have said yes,” he paused and chuckled, “just out of politeness.” That’s far too coy to satisfy Miers skeptic and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. Hecht needs to show his lady some more love.
Disappointing stuff.
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October 18th, 2005 at 10:59 am
I said it before, and I’ll say it again. I really think this administration is trying to pull a fast one. It sounds like certain people in the White House are doing the old “wink, wink” about this lady, who of course will be confirmed because there is just enough conservative pessimism to make certain overeager liberals jump on it and say, “well, maybe she won’t be that bad,” or “it could be worse.”
I would vote no on this woman because I don’t know jack about her. I would rather have someone nominated that was a wolf in wolf’s clothing, so that the cards would be on the table. Sure, maybe she won’t be like another Scalia or his pet, Thomas, but would Bush and Rove be giving the sly nod to this woman if she was going to magically turn out to be moderate or slightly liberal on some issues? I doubt it.