[UPDT: I called Dobson a Rev in the headline - a reader tells me Dobson is not ordained. But I thought Dobson claimed to have a “ministry”, and doesn’t that make him a Rev in non-denominational circles? Anyone can be a “Reverend” without official ordination by anyone in the non-denominational movement. Anyway, if Dobson isn’t a Rev, then I hope he isn’t offended by me thinking he might be one. ]

James Dobson continues to assert himself as being a religio-political leader, by seemingly taking a lead in pushing for unqualified support for the Harriet Miers nomination.

A couple of times now over the last couple of days, Dobson has apparently talked about “confidential” information he has become privy to about Miers, and that he supports Miers due to such information.

The excerpt below purports to be a detailed description of some key commentary from one of Dobson’s recent broadcasts.

In the broadcast, Dobson once again claims to have confidential information, but this time he says he probably should NOT have the info [Dems will demand he appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee and disclose such info, or else there will be a huge fight between Reps and Dems over whether to force Dobson to testify].

Dobson also says he feels the blood of babies will be on his hands in part, if he is wrong and Miers does not help stop abortion.

Two quick hits -

1. Overturning Roe v. Wade won’t stop abortion - it will simply return the issue to the States in some form or another.

The U.S. Congress has no clearly-delineated power to impose a broad ban on abortion. So if Congress tried to ban abortion, a federal judge would issue a restaining order instantly, and we’d litigate for many years.

The debate in Congress over a proposed abortion ban would resonate like the Schiavo debate - Republicans trying to meddle in the very most personal decisions of the people. Republicans would lose that battle I predict.

2. Advisory to Dems - We should be careful to not oppose Miers based mostly on her evangelical religious beliefs. Yes, we know her evangelical beliefs might telegraph something about her personal philosophy. But its her “judicial philosophy” that matters. And, we do have religious freedom still, don’t we? She can be as religious as she wants, and still be an acceptable judge.

If Miers’ religion would dictate her rulings, then she would be acting as an ayatollah and not a judge of cases, and that’s an unacceptable judicial philosophy.

If Miers’ politics would dictate her rulings, then she would be acting as a legislator and not a judge of cases, and that’s an unacceptable judicial philosophy.

I read that even Trent Lott is uncomfortable with Miers. So the hearings will be quite interesting. All sides want a lot of info before making up their minds.

Dobson: Waiting for A Signal from God

Dobson: Waiting for A Signal from God

. . .

[Dobson] went on the claim that “I’m getting calls from members of Congress saying ‘tell us your take on this, we’re not sure what we think of Harriet Miers.’” He then admitted “It was leaked to the media that I’ve had conversations with Karl Rove and the White House, which is true.”

He said “There is so much in the balance [with this nominee], there is no way to put it into words . . . Because of that, Dobson is begging the Lord: “If this is not the person you want on that Supreme Court, all you have to do is tell me so, and do it through any means you want to.”

He finally then discussed why he is supporting Miers, saying “I can’t reveal it all, because I do know things that I’m privy to that I can’t describe, because of confidentiality.” He then states that Miers “is a deeply committed Christian” and that people who know her have all told him that “she will not be a disappointment.”

“I believe in trusting this president and this time because of the stand that he has taken and the way he has implemented it consistently for four and a half years. When you put that with all the other information that I have been able to gather - and you’ll have to trust me on this one - when you know some of the things that I know, that I probably shouldn’t know, that take me in this direction, you will understand why I have said, with fear and trepidation, why I have said why I believe that Harriet Miers will be a good justice.”

He then states that “if I have made a mistake here … the blood of those babies that will die will be on my hands, to some degree. And that’s why is has weighed so heavily on me” before telling the right wing to let the confirmation process play out and not undermine Miers before the hearings.

. . .