GOP's Lackluster Performance on Judicial Nominations Draws Criticism
by Bill Fancher
September 18, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The Senate has failed to act on four more of President Bush's judicial nominees -- and one critic is blaming the GOP leaders.The four nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals -- William G. Myers III (Ninth Circuit), N. Randy Smith (Ninth Circuit), William James Haynes (Fourth Circuit), and Terrance W. Boyle (Fourth Circuit) -- were hoping to be confirmed to their respective posts last week by the U.S. Senate. But senators failed to establish a quorum at Thursday morning's executive meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee, so no vote took place.
Jan LaRue with Concerned Women for America says lack of a quorum is "inexcusable." She says she is disappointed with Committee chair Arlen Specter for allowing that to happen -- and especially with Senate Republicans for not doing more to get the president's nominations pushed through the process.
"The Senate leadership hasn't shown its back when it comes to standing up to political bullies who are continuing to obstruct the president's judicial nominees from gaining confirmation," she comments. "At such a critical time in our nation's history, one would think our elected representatives would show up and support qualified judges for America's courts."
The CWA spokeswoman is convinced America cannot win the war on terrorism without first winning the Democrat-led war on judges. "If we are going to defeat terrorism, we have to [confirm] judges that respect our Constitution rather than wrapping it around foreign terrorists who intend to bury it with us," she says.
LaRue, who is chief counsel for the Washington, DC-based policy group, believes by its inaction, the Senate Republican leadership is sending a dangerous message. "If Osama bin Laden watched [their] efforts to win the war over judges and equated it with their commitment to win the real war, he'd swap his cave for condo in Kabul or Karachi and start broadcasting live from his sundeck," she says.
"Those who won't stand up to empty suits can't expect to be taken seriously by a maniacal Jihadist who would use a real 'nuclear option' if he had it," she adds.
The Committee's hearing on the judicial nominations has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 19.
Bill Fancher, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
