Frist takes filibuster fight to Christians

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Sen. Majority Leader Bill Frist yesterday appealed directly to Christian conservatives to pressure Senate Democrats to quit blocking confirmation votes on President Bush's judicial nominees.

"My Democratic counterpart, [Senate Minority Leader Harry] Reid, calls me a radical Republican, [but] I don't think it's radical to expect senators to fulfill their constitutional responsibilities," Mr. Frist said in an address recorded for showing at a Christian rally headlined as "Justice Sunday -- Stopping the Filibuster Against People of Faith."

His speech was telecast nationwide and heard on radio stations around the country as part of a rally at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., organized by the Family Research Council (FRC).

He said that if Mr. Reid, Nevada Democrat, "continues to obstruct the process, we will consider what opponents call the 'nuclear option.' Only in the Senate could it be considered a devastating option to allow a vote. Most places call that democracy," Mr. Frist said.

The proposed rules change -- Republicans prefer to call it the "constitutional option" -- would bar the use of the filibuster only for judicial nominees, not for any other Senate business, the Tennessee Republican said.

Mr. Frist did not mention religion in his address, but FRC President Tony Perkins said the goal of the rally was to "reach as many people as possible and to engage [traditional] values votes in the all-important issue of reining in our out-of-control courts and putting a halt to the use of filibusters against people of faith."

Conservatives have accused Democrats of blocking judges who have strong religious beliefs. Liberals have criticized Mr. Frist for addressing the gathering. One conservative leader said Mr. Frist's speech at the FRC rally was a bid to garner support for a planned 2008 presidential campaign.

"Frist intends to run for the Republican presidential nomination," said Free Congress Foundation President Paul M. Weyrich. "He knows that the values voters are a very important component of the Republican coalition and he intends to identify with them."

Mr. Weyrich saw Mr. Frist's emphasis on ending the judicial filibuster as "a good signal because it means he has got to be serious in demonstrating" his willingness to change Senate rules if his attempts to reach a compromise with Senate Democrats fails.

"If he delivers on this nuclear option and Bush's judges are confirmed, he will be a hero in conservative circles," Mr. Weyrich said. "If he fails to deliver, his presidential ambitions are down the drain. It is as simple as that."

In his speech, Mr. Frist addressed the concerns expressed by some in his party about suspending the filibuster.

"Now some Republicans -- even some conservatives -- don't think we should press the issue on requiring votes on judicial nominees," he said. "They're concerned that in the future Republicans won't be able to use this same device to obstruct Democratic nominees. Well, that may be true, but if what Democrats are doing is wrong today, it won't be right for Republicans to do the same thing tomorrow."