Liberal groups are amping up smear campaigns against appeals court nominees, and Senate Democrats are echoing those messages, signaling a major battle in the coming weeks.
In addition to Judge Leslie Southwick, who is embroiled in a nasty battle for confirmation to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Senate Democrats appear to be spoiling for a fight over Shalom Stone, who is up for a high-profile seat on the 3rd Circuit – the seat that Justice Samuel Alito vacated to join the U.S. Supreme Court.
Curt Levy of the Committee for Justice told Family News in Focus that liberal groups are giving clear marching orders.
"Unfortunately, the way it works, the groups on the Left choose who is going to be opposed and who’s not going to be opposed. This is an issue in which the Democrats don’t really seem to care, they just do whatever the groups on the Left tell them to do," he explained. “Our side is gearing up for a showdown. When I say ‘our side,’ I mean the outside groups and Republican leadership in the Senate. And I’m sure the Democrats are not going to back down without a fight.”
There appears to be little hope for breaking through the impasse. Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said the president is standing firm.
“The president is still nominating strict constructionists," he said. "He doesn’t seem to have backed off to try to find some ‘moderate.’ ”
Sen. Arlen Specter, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, has been lobbying for these judges, and Hausknecht said a showdown might come before the August recess.
“Senator Specter is gearing up for a fight," he said, "and that will include other senators on the conservative side of the aisle.”
