RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT HIM
Despite seemingly treading water on the Miguel
Estrada nomination to the federal appeals bench, the White
House feels it is gaining ground and support for the nomination and
even hopes to extend the debate a bit longer.
“We’re winning in a way,” says a White House political staffer.
“We’ve firmed up three Democratic votes this week, and the public
perception is that Democrats are playing a race card of sorts
against this man. As things stand, we can only gain with more
debate.”
Several weeks ago, it appeared that Estrada was stalled and that
the White House might pull the nomination back. Others inside the
White House, according to sources, were mulling whether a “leak” of
several Estrada memos from his when he served in the U.S. Soliciter
General’s office might not help push things along. Such documents
have been a point of debate for Democrats, who have been demanding
numerous documents written by Estrada, because they say he doesn’t
have a large enough backlog of written opinion for them to evaluate
where he stands. Obviously, nothing the White House or Justice
Department might have leaked would have been damaging to the
nomination. But in the end, the decision was made to let Estrada
ride the Republican majority in the Senate, such as it is.
President Bush has been steadily supporting Estrada, targeting
speeches and comments to the Hispanic community regarding one of
their own. Thus far, independent Hispanic interest groups have
backed Estrada, while groups bound to organized labor or
Democrat-controlled interest groups have rallied against him.
As White House strategists currently see it, it’s a no lose
proposition. If for some reason the Estrada nomination is pulled or
defeated, Republicans feel confident they can build on doubts in
the Hispanic community that the Democrats aren’t really their
party. And if Estrada is confirmed, it shows conservatives they
have a president willing to go farther than Bill Clinton was ever
willing to go for his nominees.
SHOW IT TOOMEY
If for no other reason than it might push Sen. Arlen
Specter a bit to the right on some votes, conservatives
should be rejoicing at word that Stephen Moore and
his Club for Growth have recruited Rep. Pat
Toomeyto run against him in 2004. Toomey is one of the
most strident fiscal conservatives in the House, constantly pushing
for offsetting budget cuts in appropriations legislation, and
calling for smaller government.
“He’s the antithesis of Specter in so many ways,” says a
Republican House member. “Once people in Pennsylvania get to know
him, they are going to like him.”
As the Prowler reported last December 18 (“Stuck
With Specter”) conservatives in the state party were looking
for someone to step up and challenge Specter in 2004, despite the
White House’s ongoing support of Specter. Now Moore’s Club for
Growth has come through for them. Toomey, whose district includes
parts of Allentown and Bethlehem, will have to traverse the state
to build up name recognition. But his small government, Reaganesque
politics should hit a chord with blue-collar Catholics who were
attracted to the Gipper way back when.
The White House is in a bind. While some inside would prefer a
more reliable conservative in the seat, similar to Pennsylvania’s
junior Sen. Rick Santorum, it can’t afford to
anger Specter. “We need his votes and his support,” says a White
House staffer. But should Toomey defeat Specter in the Republican
primary, look for full White House support for the victor.
