Mehlman Addresses the Bloggers
What you missed on RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman's call with conservative bloggers. (And forgive small errors in instantaneous transcription, please.)
Mehlman laid out the case for Miers -- much of it was similar to his introduction on a call with conservative leaders last Thursday.
"There is no more important reason other than the the war on terror that I support this president in the kind of people he names to the courts."
"What you have in Harriet Miers is both the character and the philosophy in my judgement that make an excellent Supreme Court justice."
On terrorism, noting her role in key Admin. decisions: "Clearly, there are going to be some cases where she may have to think about recusing herself, but that's only in the short term."
More, including Q and As, after the jump. [MARC AMBINDER]
A questioner asked what the RNC's polling showed re: Miers. Is there a split b/w the base and the cons. leadership? Mehlman said the only polling he's seen suggests that the base supports the nominee.
A questioner asked: "Do you have anything concrete that we could take away from this call that would indicate that HM is in the mold of Scalia or Clarence Thomas?"
Mehlman: "What do Scalia and Thomas bring to the table? They bring a constitutionalist philosophy and the character to stand behind that philosophy."
Mehlman says Miers is "tough" and hasn't been affected by the criticism.
He refused to say which potential nominees had asked not to be considered.
A questioner asked why they should consider Bush trustworthy after he flip-flopped on McCain-Feingold? Mehlman replied that the bill had changed between the time Bush first considered it and the time it crossed its desk.
Edward Morrissey of Captain's Quarters: "We would have expected a Miers nomination if we were looking at a Democratically controlled Senate. Here we have a Republican Senate, a Republican President, and we're still bringing in people who don't have a good record of constitituional writing. I'm waiting for the explanation of why I should love Harriet Miers."
Mehlman: "Records...are important... even more important is someone with the right philosophy who won't change."
Morrisey: "It would certainly be more helpful for the base to see that we've promoting people who have been courageous...who have a demonstrated track record..like Michael Luttig and Michael McConnell."
UCLA law prof. Stephen Bainbridge asked about reports that Miers supported affirmative action in internal WH deliberations. "I agree that it's important to see what Harriet Miers says at a hearing, but is she cleaves to the Ginsberg rule with both hands and doesn't answer questions. that's going to make it very hard for me to change my mind about her."
Mehlman said he hoped Miers would outline her philosophy on jurisprudence at the hearing. He didn't know the answer to the first part of the question.
And with that, it was over.