‘Gang of 14’ Member Says Breakup Not True

By Melissa Charbonneau
White House Correspondent

CBN.com – WASHINGTON - With a Supreme Court seat hanging in the balance, the eyes of Washington are on a group of senators known as "the Gang of 14.”

This group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats has become a powerful force in the Senate.

They first came together as peace-brokers, after talk of filibusters and the nuclear option threatened many of President Bush's judicial nominees.

With cries of "Make way, make way, clear the way," “the Gang of 14” members put up a unified front as they emerged from their first meeting since the Alito nomination.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) remarked, "The gang is not breaking up, so we'd like to put that rumor to bed."

That rumor began over reports that gang members Sen. Mike DeWine (R-OH) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have already defected.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) disputed suggestions that the two Republicans have split with the gang to join Republican leaders in the event of a Democratic filibuster.

"I don't know if that depicts the DeWine and Graham positions accurately,” McCain said. “That's certainly not our understanding."

But the gang will not rule out the possibility of a Senate filibuster, saying they are reserving judgment, and standing behind their agreement to avoid one except under extraordinary circumstances.

Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) commented, "No one is talking about reopening the basic agreement, which precluded the nuclear option. ‘The Gang of 14’ stands by agreement of the 14; the question is whether any of us under that agreement at any point think these are extraordinary circumstances, and we want to go to a filibuster."

“If we get to a point where we have extraordinary circumstances, the group will get together again and we'll have a discussion about it," said Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO).

“Gang of 14” members say they are looking forward to a rigorous and fair process. But one Republican has already predicted it will be like Armageddon. And with calls for more time to review Alito's extensive record, the White House may not get their hoped-for confirmation vote this year.

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