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Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views

By Jeralyn, Section Harriet Miers
Posted on Tue Oct 04, 2005 at 11:20:39 AM EST
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President Bush told reporters today he didn't ask Ms. Miers her views on abortion. That's not surprising.

The Associated Press (Feb. 2, 1992) (available on Lexis.com) reported on Ms. Miers' participation in an American Bar Association panel discussion on Supreme Court nominations. The panel was asked whether a President, who was elected partially based on his abortion stance, should ask a potential nominee about his or her views on abortion.

You've been elected president of the United States, in part due to your views on abortion. In picking a Supreme Court justice, would you ask apotential nominee how he or she will vote in abortion- related cases?

...."Nominees are clearly prohibited from making such a commitment and presidents are prohibited from asking for it," said Harriet Miers, a Dallas lawyer and president-elect of the State Bar of Texas.
She said people who think such inquiries are proper display "a misunderstanding of the separation of powers by proposing that judicial nominees should mirror a president's views."

The ABA Journal reported on another facet of the same panel discussion in its April, 1992 issue (Lexis.com)

The panel also debated whether a candidate's race or sex should have any bearing on his or her selection. [Bruce]Fein and former U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti were among those who argued that it should not, while Gilbert, Nace and Harriet Miers, president-elect of the State Bar of Texas, took the position that it should.

< Miers: The Ultimate Faith-Based Nomination | Interview With Harriet Miers' Pastor >

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    Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views (none / 0) (#1)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    For the life of me I don't see how anyone could believe for a second that Bush hasn't discussed abortion laws with both Roberts and Miers. Why must reporters and bloggers produce headlines such as "Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views"? The public perception of such headlines, quite rightly, will be "yeah, right."

    Re: Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views (none / 0) (#2)
    by ras on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate both George W. Bush and Harry Reid on finding a candidate that they agree on. I must admit to having been initially surprised that Bush would out and out choose someone directly from a list of candidates supplied by his Democratic political opponent, but having now had the chance to learn more about the nominee, I can see why both of them support her so strongly. Congratulations to both sides on finding common ground.

    Re: Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views (none / 0) (#3)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    He did not have to discuss her views on abortion because he knows what thay are. She belonged to an fundamentalist church in Dallas and her views are obviously in keeping with those of her peers. Anti-choice. war and peace

    Re: Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views (none / 0) (#4)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    Um... isn't she a Republican these days? This is like asking for her views on Jesus. Dance, kabuki clowns, dance!

    Re: Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views (none / 0) (#5)
    by chemoelectric on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:40 PM EST
    Bush has narcissistic personality disorder, and he chose one of his most loyal toadies. Her qualification is that she says Bush is a 'brilliant' man and she rolls out red carpets for him. That transcends the need for Bush to know what positions she might take when on the Court. Usually what goes on in Washington has the scent of Cheney on it, but this one smells of Bush.

    Re: Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:42 PM EST
    "Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views" That's NOT what he said. He said he had "never asked A JUDGE their views." She is not a judge--has NEVER been a judge. So did he LIE? You bet he did. That's a DODGE, TalkLeft, and I'm rather surprised you fell for it. The second time the question was asked, he went off on an absurd jargon that "there is no litmus test." Hey, Bush -- there ain't no test, period. If there was a test, you and your entire fascist regime would be hanging from the trees in front of the White House, your convictions stuffed in your pockets, and your wallets returned to the National Treasury.

    Re: Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:04:42 PM EST
    Maybe he left that question to the missus. "Harriet, we don't care what happens to negresses or some sluts in California or someplace, but you wouldn't make the twins have babies they didn't want, would you?"

    Bush Didn't Ask Miers About Abortion Views | 7 comments (7 topical)