Specter denies pro-choice litmus test

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Sen. Arlen Specter, who set off a firestorm of controversy last week among conservatives who interpreted certain remarks as a warning to President Bush not to nominate pro-life judicial candidates, pledged yesterday to treat the president's choices fairly and quickly.

Mr. Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican next in line to lead the Senate Judiciary Committee, said his earlier remarks had been taken out of context and he would not attempt to impose a "litmus test."

Karl Rove, senior White House political adviser, said Mr. Bush has been assured that all court nominees will be treated fairly.

"Senator Specter is a man of his word, and we'll take him at his word if he becomes chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee," Mr. Rove told "Fox News Sunday."

"He told the president, 'I will make certain your nominees receive a hearing. I'll make certain they receive a vote, and the appellate nominees will be brought to the floor,'" Mr. Rove said.

For his own part, the Pennsylvania Republican yesterday said he would not require nominees to back his stance on Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision making abortion a constitutional right.

"Although I am pro-choice, I have supported many pro-life nominees," Mr. Specter said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

"That doesn't mean that I have a litmus test, or that I don't give appropriate deference to whom the president nominates."

Mr. Specter made his initial statements during a Wednesday night press conference, as he was discussing the success of Democrats in blocking the confirmation of Mr. Bush's judicial picks who are pro-life.

"When you talk about judges who would change the right of a woman to choose, overturn Roe v. Wade, I think that is unlikely. The president is well-aware of what happened when a bunch of his nominees were sent up with the filibuster. And I would expect the president to be mindful of the considerations which I am mentioning," he said.