The “withdraw” word was mentioned several times this morning on CNN. Will Harriet Miers’ nomination mark “The End of the Conservative Dream?,” as Patrick Lang considered yesterday (buttressed by a Chicago Tribune story that blames Republican leadership‘s failure to stand up to filibuster threats)? Or, will the conservatives stay alive, and force Miers to withdraw?
The repeated use of the word “withdraw” today on CNN could mean nothing. It could be among the first indications — including yesterday’s Forbes magazine piece, “Conservatives to Bush: Withdraw Miers” (via Raw Story) — that pressure is growing for Harriet Miers to do the “right thing.” Toss in today’s report of Tony Perkins’ alarm over Harriet Miers’ sponsorship of a 1990s forum at her alma mater Southern Methodist University that, Perkins e-mailed to supporters, featured “an unbroken string of pro-abortion speakers.”
As Josh Marshall points out, “[T]he key issue [for nominations encountering opposition] is whether and how quickly they can find some committed group to mount a defense.”
Who does Harriet have to defend on her side besides Dubya, few administration apologists, and some Swift Boat spin-cycle artists (quoted but not vetted by the NYT)?
Our question: Do we prefer the devil we are getting to know, or the next one if Miers withdraws? What are we gambling with?
From CNN’s American Morning transcript:
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well good morning, Carol.
Harriet Miers was in Dallas this weekend. That is where she was gathering records of really trying to bring forward her resume of accomplishments, past posts, as well as with the Dallas City Council. But of course the big question here, Carol, is whether or not Harriet Miers and the White House can convince conservatives that she does indeed deserve that position. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers was attending Sunday morning church services in Dallas; in Washington, conservatives were declaring all-out war over her nomination, directing much of their anger at the president.
PAT BUCHANAN, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Much of the conservative movement is at war with their own president.
GARY BAUER, PRES., AMER. VALUES COALITION: The problem that we have is that when you make a mistake with a Supreme Court appointment, it’s a 20-year mistake.
MALVEAUX: As some conservatives ratcheted up their rhetoric, calling for Miers to withdraw her nomination, others urged their fellow Republicans to cool down, saying Miers would be faithful to Mr. Bush’s agenda. Continued BELOW:
DR. RICHARD LAND, SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION: If someone is disloyal, if someone betrays a trust in Texas, they’re right down there with child molesters and ax murderers.
REV. PAT ROBERTSON, CHRISTIAN COALITION FOUNDER: I think what the president wants is a vote that reflects his point of view. You know some of these great, brilliant scholars go off the reservation.
MALVEAUX: One of the first issues the Senate Judicial Committee will tackle is whether the White House provided anyone with information about how Miers might vote on hot button social issues, like abortion, gay marriage and the role of religion.
Conservative activist James Dobson created a stir on his Wednesday radio broadcast when, after being briefed about Miers by Mr. Bush’s top political aide, Karl Rove, Dobson suggested he had special insights.
DR. JAMES DOBSON, CONSERVATIVE RADIO SHOW HOST: When you know some of the things that I know, that I probably shouldn’t know, you will understand why I have said with fear and trepidation I believe Harriet Miers will be a good justice.
MALVEAUX: Since then, in meetings with Senate committee members, Miers has tried to clear up the controversy.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D-VT), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: So we at least start with the fact that she says she has not told anybody or assured anybody how she would vote.
MALVEAUX: But senators say they are still considering calling on Dobson and Rove to testify before their committee.
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA) JUDICIARY CMTE. CHAIRMAN: If there were backroom assurances and if there are backroom deals, that’s a matter that ought to be known by the Judiciary Committee and the American people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And getting information, of course, is expected to be difficult. It’s anticipated that there is going to be quite a fight ahead when it comes over releasing those documents with the White House — Carol.
COSTELLO: So, Suzanne, is the president surprised by this?
MALVEAUX: Well, you know the White House is somewhat surprised by this backlash and the conservatives coming forward. But one of the things that happened in this process is, because it was so secret, Harriet Miers being a part of that search committee, they had to keep it from people who they would normally talk to, that being some of the conservatives who had signed on earlier on with John Roberts.
