The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 4)

That may not happen, and it may scuttle the bill in its current form, something Republicans would like to see happen.

Critics of Pelosi's leadership say this bill is another sign of her occasional tone-deafness on political issues. "There is no way in hell we should be debating this issue in a time when we're losing the messaging war with Republicans," says another Democrat House staffer.

p> MITT'S BIG BOPPER br> "I think being pro-life is more than saying you'll appoint strict constructionist judges," is what former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney told reporters last week. He was talking about former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani , but he could just as well be talking about himself. /p>

Romney, who for more than 35 years claimed to be avowedly pro-choice, and ran as such for the U.S. Senate and for the Bay State governorship, has been using his and his family's money to create a "pro-life" record.

Earlier this year, his wife, Ann, was given an award by a Massachusetts pro-life organization after Romney made what a source inside the group called a "sizable" donation. Ann Romney, like her husband, has been pro-choice most of her life.

Romney also has hired political consultants with pro-life records, the best example being James Bopp, a prominent conservative lawyer, who serves as a legal counsel for National Right to Life.

Bopp has carried Romney's pro-life message for months, and was front and center for the candidate during the Family Research Council's Value Voters Summit.

But Bopp is now facing the same kind questions that were raised by conservatives when respected conservatives like Federalist Society leader Leonard Leo supported the nomination of former White House Counsel Harriet Miers to a seat on the Supreme Court, when most conservatives were opposing the nomination.

topics:
Trade, Nancy Pelosi, Abortion, Constitution, Law, Supreme Court, Iraq, Conservatism