Washington – President Bush said Wednesday it was appropriate for the White House to invoke Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers’ religion in making the case for her to skeptical conservatives, triggering a debate over what role, if any, her evangelical faith should play in the confirmation battle.
Bush said religion was part of Miers’ overall background much like her work as a corporate lawyer in Texas and that “our outreach program has been just to explain the facts to people.”
At the same time, his attorney general went on television and described Miers as “pro-life.” But the White House said her religious and personal views would not affect her ability to serve as a neutral justice.
“People ask me why I picked Harriet Miers,” Bush said in response to a reporter’s question at an Oval Office appearance with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski. “They want to know Harriet Miers’ background. They want to know as much as they possibly can before they form opinions. And part of Harriet Miers’ life is her religion.”
Liberals jumped on the comments to accuse the White House of invoking faith as a way of signaling to conservatives that Miers would rule as they wish on such questions as restricting abortion rights.
Ralph Neas, president of People for the American Way, noted that conservatives complained when anyone questioned the influence of faith during the recent confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts.
“It’s hypocrisy doubled and quadrupled,” Neas said. “What’s wrong for John Roberts can’t be right for Harriet Miers. … The president and his people are using repeated assurances about Miers’ religion to send not-so- subtle messages about how she might rule on the court on issues important to the president’s political supporters.”
During the Roberts confirmation process, the administration and its allies tiptoed cautiously around the question of the nominee’s religious beliefs. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., told reporters that when he asked how faith influences his work, Roberts “said, ‘I’m very uncomfortable talking about that.”‘
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said during the Roberts process, “We have no religious test for public office in this country.”
But religion was clearly on the minds of some Miers supporters Wednesday.
Television evangelist Pat Robertson warned Republican senators not to oppose Miers when her nomination comes up for a vote.
