Bush: Religion Important To Miers

President Says Aides Discussed Nominee's Beliefs With Conservatives

(CBS/AP) 
Republicans overall were less enthusiastic about Miers than Roberts. Almost three-fourths wanted Roberts confirmed, compared to six in 10 for Miers.

Dobson said Rove also said she had been a member of the Texas Right to Life. Told of Dobson's comments, Elizabeth Graham, director of the 300,000-member Texas Right to Life, said, "I don't know where he would have gotten that information. I'm not able to confirm or deny" whether Miers is a member. Graham said the membership list was not public.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said it was his understanding that Miers attended some of the group's fundraising events. Miers bought a $150 ticket to a Texas anti-abortion group's fundraising dinner in 1989, the year she won a term on the Dallas city council, said the group's president, Kyleen Wright.

Dobson said Rove also told him that some prospective court candidates bowed out because they didn't want to subject themselves or their families to a confirmation that "has become so vicious and so vitriolic and so bitter."

McClellan also acknowledged there were some prospective candidates who told the White House that they preferred not to be considered, citing the ordeal of the confirmation process.

"Washington scares people away? Is that new?" McClellan asked. "There are plenty of good people willing to be considered. The president found the best person."

McClellan later said that "it was just a couple of people" who asked that their names be withdrawn, and it happened when the field of candidates was "in the double digits." He declined to say whether "a couple" meant just two — or more.

Amid complaints that they know little about Miers' judicial philosophy, the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday sent Miers a 12-page questionnaire to be completed before the start of confirmation hearings, which are likely to begin next month. Senators, through several questions, want to probe her connections with the president and Republican interest groups. They want to know whether she has given anyone assurances about how she would vote on any Supreme Court case.

"Did you make any representations to any individuals or interest groups as to how you might rules as a justice if confirmed?" one of the questions asks.

The questionnaire asks her to explain how she would deal with any conflicts of interest she would have in hearing cases brought by the White House and the Bush administration. They also want her to explain her experience with constitutional law, given that she has never been a judge.

Several Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, including Sens. Orrin Hatch, John Cornyn, Lindsey Graham and Mike DeWine, have indicated that they may support Miers' confirmation. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., one of the Senate's most strident anti-abortion senators, has been prominently undecided and is expected to be one of her toughest questioners at her confirmation hearings.