Inside Politics

Robertson’s priority

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, said yesterday that the three top issues in U.S. politics today are “judges, judges, judges.”

Mr. Robertson, in a luncheon address at the National Press Club, said the Supreme Court “has morphed into a superlegislature” and usurped the role of Congress.

“I just want Congress to be Congress,” he said in response to a question. Earlier, in his prepared remarks, Mr. Robertson said that “people of faith feel ostracized and helpless” as unelected judges rule by “fiat” on abortion, homosexual “marriage” and other moral issues.

The 1988 Republican primary contender said he supports the so-called “nuclear option,” in which Senate Republicans would rule by a majority vote to disallow filibusters of judicial nominations.

“We were hoping they would bring it up at the beginning of the term,” Mr. Roberston said of the rule change.

Senate Democrats used filibusters ” which a supermajority of 60 votes is needed to end ” to block a number of President Bush’s judicial nominees in his first term.

“Majority vote and not the filibuster is the American way,” Mr. Robertson said.

No new rules

Members of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) met yesterday with President Bush’s spokesman, Scott McClellan, to discuss the White House credentialing system for reporters, but neither side pressed for stricter guidelines and each is wary of setting new limits on access.

The 20-minute meeting came a week after James D. Guckert, aka Jeff Gannon, a former reporter for the conservative Talon News, resigned amid charges that he was not a legitimate reporter for a bona fide news organization.

The WHCA, which deals with the administration on coverage-related issues, did not use the meeting to press for new guidelines to decide which reporters can get into the White House for daily briefings, reports Joseph Curl of The Washington Times.

“Nobody asked anybody else to do anything, and nobody said they intend to do anything,” said WHCA President Ron Hutcheson, who added that no official action was likely at a Feb. 28 WHCA board meeting. “Our general position is to let people in, not to keep people out.”

Under nonmandatory guidelines from the Clinton administration, which are sometimes bent by the White House and by news organizations, reporters seeking a permanent White House “hard pass” must:

• Work for a news organization with a Washington bureau.

• Be certified by the organization’s executives as a regular correspondent.

• Demonstrate a need to be at the White House on a daily basis.

• Live in the Washington area.

• Be a member of the congressional press gallery.

Mr. McClellan said he reiterated the administration stance in yesterday’s meeting that the White House should not be deciding which reporters get in.

“I certainly don’t think it’s the press secretary’s role to get into picking and choosing,” he said in a telephone interview.

Kerry’s claim

Last year’s Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. John Kerry, who lost to President Bush in an election focused on national security, said yesterday the country would be “far better off” with his proposals for Iraq and the military.

“I think my security proposals for the country were smack on, dead on,” Mr. Kerry said. “I think that had they started to do the things I proposed on Iraq when I proposed them, we would be far better off today. And they are in fact now trying to do some of the things that I proposed.”

The Massachusetts senator, meeting with defense reporters, discussed legislation he plans to introduce to permanently increase the size of the military and boost benefits for military families. It’s largely the same proposal that Mr. Kerry put forth during the campaign, the Associated Press reports.

Reflecting on the presidential campaign, Mr. Kerry said he had proposed “a far more effective way to make America safer.” And, he said, he was “way ahead of the curve” in several areas ” such as creating the position of intelligence chief, establishing the commission to investigate the September 11 attacks, and an increase in the military death gratuity ” while “the president dragged his feet.”

Library salesman

Bill Clinton delivered a message to a meeting of Southern travel operators yesterday, suggesting they bring their passengers to his newly opened presidential library.

In videotaped remarks to the Travel South Showcase in Memphis, Tenn., the former president said the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Center, which opened in November in Little Rock, Ark., is not only a resource for students and scholars.

“I also wanted to help promote the history, culture and economy of Little Rock and Arkansas,” Mr. Clinton said. “That’s why it’s located where it is ” in the historic part of downtown, yet near the highway and the airport, easily accessible to visitors, as well as those just passing through.”

The Travel South Showcase draws about 700 people from throughout the South, connecting regional attractions with tour organizers, the Associated Press reports.

“In less than two months since opening its doors in November, the center drew more than 120,000 people,” Mr. Clinton said.

Kudlow’s show

Larry Kudlow, the Ronald Reagan supply-side economist, debuted his new weekday show this week on CNBC, “Kudlow & Company,” which runs from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Mr. Kudlow is bullish by nature about the economy and the war on terror and not always impressed with the mainstream media. His first show Monday reflected this worldview.

He interviewed Ralph Peters, the retired Army officer, best-selling author and New York Post columnist. Mr. Peters promptly bashed the New York Times for what he considered inaccurate coverage on the Iraq election’s aftermath.

Mr. Kudlow also celebrated bloggers who brought down CNN executive Eason Jordan by exposing his charge that U.S. troops deliberately killed reporters in Iraq.

Frost joins Fox

Former Rep. Martin Frost, Texas Democrat, has signed up as a political contributor to the Fox News Channel s.

Mr. Frost served 13 terms in Congress before losing in 2004 after the Texas Legislature redrew his congressional district to include more Republicans. He was chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from January 1995 to December 1998 and chairman of the Democratic Caucus for two terms beginning in 1999.

• Greg Pierce can be reached at 202/636-3285 or gpierce@washingtontimes.com.