Republicans see win-win with Saad

Republicans have picked Henry Saad — President Bush’s judicial nominee from Michigan who is of Arab descent — as the face of their next high-profile nominations battle.

If Democrats continue to block the nomination, Republicans aim to capitalize on it during the next presidential election with the large Arab community in Michigan, a state viewed as crucial to Mr. Bush’s re-election.

“He will be the first Arab-American on the federal bench,” said Manuel Miranda, who handles judicial nominations for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican. “If Democrats want to filibuster Henry Saad, that’s their business. And then it will become our business.”

Judge Saad, a Michigan appellate judge, is nominated to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but his nomination has been blocked by Michigan’s two Democratic senators. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow.

Mr. Levin and Mrs. Stabenow have not stated the particular reasons for their opposition to Mr. Saad or any of the other three Michigan nominees they are now blocking. Rather, they say, they are retaliating against Republicans for the similarly poor treatment of President Bill Clinton’s judicial nominees from Michigan.

“The efforts of our Republican colleagues to make a partisan political issue out of the situation surrounding Michigan vacancies on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals is regrettable,” Mr. Levin and Mrs. Stabenow said in a joint statement. “We have proposed a process that could lead to bipartisan compromise to fill the Michigan vacancies on the 6th Circuit and repeat that we are willing to work with our Michigan Republican colleagues to resolve this issue.”

That compromise entails confirming two of Mr. Clinton’s Michigan nominees to the federal bench who are particularly supported by Mr. Levin.

Despite the opposition from Mr. Levin and Mrs. Stabenow — traditionally, opposition from the home state senators is enough to stall a nominee indefinitely — Republicans are proceeding with a hearing Wednesday for Judge Saad before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

If the Democratic blockade continues, Republicans plan to employ the same strategy they used with Miguel Estrada, Mr. Bush’s nominee to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals who is Hispanic. With mixed success, Republicans are using Mr. Estrada’s stymied nomination as a battle cry among Hispanics, the fastest growing minority group in America.

“Just because Mr. Saad thinks a little differently than [Democrats] do, he’s no longer welcome in their tent,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, Michigan Republican. “If that’s their vision of inclusion in America, then I don’t want any part of it. Shame on them.”

Sen. Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat and member of the Judiciary panel, defends his Democratic colleagues, saying their opposition at this point has nothing to do with Judge Saad or any of the other Michigan Bush nominees.

“They’re just looking for fair treatment,” Mr. Durbin said.

He also derided attempts by Republicans to use the Judge Saad issue to garner support with Americans of Arab descent.

“They’re just trying to fire up any groups they want to vote Republican,” he said. “It’s become a laughing matter on the Democratic side.”

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