White House judicial nominee drops out

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Sep 04, 2003

Miguel Estrada, who was nominated by the White House for a federal judiciary post, has withdrawn, recognizing that his nomination will probably be stalled forever by a Democratic filibuster in the Senate.

Score one for the Democrats, led by the allegedly Catholic Ted Kennedy, who are blocking any judicial nominee suspected of harboring pro-life views. They've made it clear that right now-- despite Republican control of both the Senate and the White House-- no pro-lifer need apply.

President Bush said that the two-year filibuster of the Estrada nomination was "disgraceful." Which it certainly was. But both the White House and the Senate Republican leadership have responded quietly, tacitly accepting the Democratic tactics. When Republicans get tough, I'll begin to believe that they're serious about appointing pro-life judges. Until then, count me as skeptical.