The Political Influence of Focus on the Family

Spin Cycle Begins

So, Doctor Dobson, evangelical conservatives want to know, what did the White House share with you on the Roe v. Wade thing?

Dobson said that he and Rove did not discuss Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to end a pregnancy, or how Miers might judge abortion-related cases.

Please, Doctor Dobson, you're as much a politician as an ordained minister. How could that one huge elephant standing in the room not be referenced?

"I did not ask that question," Dobson said. "You know, to be honest, I would have loved to have known how Harriet Miers views Roe v. Wade. But even if Karl had known the answer to that — and I'm certain that he didn't, because the president himself said he didn't know — Karl would not have told me that. That's the most incendiary information that's out there, and it was never part of our discussion."

OK. Being a man of the cloth, I accept your word. So if the biggest issue facing most church-going folk, and the foundation of President Bush's reelection strategy, was not mentioned, then what did Karl Rove share with you?

According to Dobson, that information included "that Harriet Miers is an evangelical Christian; that she is from a very conservative church, which is almost universally pro-life; that she had taken on the American Bar Assn. on the issue of abortion and fought for a policy that would not be supportive of abortion; [and] that she had been a member of the Texas Right to Life."

Ahhh, now I understand. Code. Like asking my 5 year-old a question; he answers truthfully, but only the question that was asked.

Miers' personal views on abortion have been the focus of much concern on the right and the left. As president of the Texas Bar Assn., she contended that local chapters should be allowed a voice in American Bar Assn. positions on national controversies such as abortion, but she did not say whether she was personally against abortion rights.

This is sounding too lawyerly, like Bill Clinton questioning what the definitiion of is, is.

And in 1989, Miers gave $150 to Texans United for Life and was a sponsor of the group's annual dinner that honored Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.), a leading congressional opponent of abortion — but she does not appear to have formally joined the organization.

As one of our leading voices on social conservative issues, Dr. Dobson's psuedo-endorsement will prove to be enough to confirm Harriet Miers. But, disappointment remains among movement conservatives.