My 2 cents about Specter

Here is a letter which I sent to over 4000 LDS volunteers about the Arlen Specter situation.

A call to action from the Family News Network You did it! But it's not over yet! Dear Meridian reader, “I urge you with all the capacity that I have to reach out in a duty that stands beyond the requirements of our everyday lives, that is, to stand strong, even to become a leader in speaking up in behalf of those causes which make our civilization shine and which give comfort and peace to our lives. You can be a leader. You must be a leader...” - President Gordon B. Hinckley Take action now: Read about the Senate Leadership crisis below We want to thank you for the incredible efforts that you put forth as “anxiously engaged” Latter-day Saints over the past few weeks leading up to last Tuesday’s tremendous victory. The service that you rendered did not go unnoticed. More importantly, the service you rendered may have changed the election! Hundreds of you responded to our call for volunteers across the country to help re-elect President Bush and increase conservative majorities in both houses of Congress. Whether you made a dozen phone calls from home or walked a dozen miles from home to home, your energetic response put us over the top. We thank you! However, like all great efforts, the work goes on. No sooner has the election been decided than the first challenges have arisen. We ask for your help again to keep the momentum of this movement alive by responding to an urgent crisis in leadership of the Senate. Take action now: Read about the Senate Leadership crisis below Background Many of you are aware that Senator Hatch is leaving his position as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee because of recently enacted term limit rules. Senate practice has traditionally given the chairmanship to the ranking member with longest tenure on the committee. Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is the unofficial chair designate for the next congress. Senator Specter has consistently been at odds with the Bush Administration on a number of issues. As National Review columnist Stephen Moore noted earlier this year, Specter is a RINO (Republican in Name Only). Moore continues: “Specter has about the lowest American Conservative Union rating of any other senator who bothers calling himself a Republican and close to the worst National Taxpayers Union. The American Civil Liberties Union gives him two enthusiastic thumbs up.” On Wednesday, not even 24 hours after President Bush’s acceptance speech, Senator Specter indicated that he may block any judicial nominee that he deemed too conservative. Essentially, Senator Specter’s comments implied that he would employ a litmus test in his assessments as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Such an effort would seriously undermine the sacrifice that thousands of conservatives made to elect a majority and preserve the values we hold dear. Take action now: Read about the Senate Leadership crisis below Senator Specter’s remarks are a slap in the face to the Bush administration, which supported the Senator’s re-election campaign this year against Republican challenger Congressman Pat Toomey during the primaries. Toomey, a true conservative, would have easily won the Republican nomination were it not for a last-minute endorsement by President Bush on behalf of Senator Spencer. Many conservatives were disappointed by the President’s decision to support Specter, but were willing to look the other way in exchange for a larger majority in the Senate. While Specter was a shoe-in to win the general election, Toomey was not. As one Republican Senate insider told us last week: “We would have gladly settled for a 53-seat majority in exchange for losing Specter.” Of course, hindsight is 20-20. In short, we need your help to ensure that Arlen Specter is not installed as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary. Here’s what you can do: Act Now! Write or email your Senator (click here to find your Senator) Call your Republican Senator Call the Republican members of the Senate Judiciary: Senator Hatch (202) 224-5251 Senator Grassley (202)224.3744 Senator Kyl (202) 224-4521 Senator DeWine (202) 224-2315 Senator Sessions (202) 224-4124 Senator Graham (202) 224-5972 Senator Craig 202/224-2752 Senator Chambliss (202) 224-3521 Senator Cornyn 202-224-2934 In your emails, letters and phone calls, please indicate your opposition to Senator Specter being voted in as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. We ask that you be brief and to the point when you contact these offices. Also, we ask that you be polite in your language and approach. Here’s a sample script of what you might say or write: “Hello. My name is ________. I would to voice my opposition to Senator Specter being voted in as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary. I believe that his recent comments indicate that he would seriously undermine the judicial nominations that President Bush might make to the committee and hamper efforts to sustain the values that I uphold. I ask Senator _____ to vote against Senator Specter’s bid to become Chairman. Thank you.” As noted in this morning's Washington Post, the Senate has been flooded with calls insisting that Specter NOT be given this very powerful Chairmanship. Your call will be part of a force of THOUSANDS who are already taking action built on the momentum of last week’s incredible election. Specter’s arrogance concerning judges that President Bush should and should not appoint is feckless liberalism at its worst. The assumptive powers he pretends to own are not his yet and should not be his. Many of you worked countless hours to re-elect President Bush and other conservatives for very specific reasons. The obligation of the ruling majority is to listen to the constituents who put them there. The post-election enthusiasm we share from the Republican victory is not license to ignore our base values. Your call could make the difference, AGAIN! Thank you, Editors of Family News Network Other ways to get involved: http://www.notspecter.com/ Fax the Senate