TVC and more than 50 Hispanic pastors from across the nation representing the National Coalition Of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders (CONLAMIC) held a press conference in Washington, DC, on March 13, 2003 to support the stalled nomination of Miguel Estrada to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.
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Rev Sheldon, Hispanic pastors with Senator Santorum (R-PA) and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) |
CONLAMIC leader Pastor Miguel Rivera issued a statement on behalf of Estrada: “Mr. Estrada is more than qualified to serve in this judgeship. It’s not really about qualifications or Democrat versus Republican. It’s about values—Mr. Estrada has them and that’s what upsets his opponents.”
Rivera continued, “Mr. Estrada represents the values and sentiments of Latino families with his strong moral character and professionalism. He is a true role model for minority children across America.”
According to Pastor Rivera: “Miquel Estrada is a living example to all of America’s youth. He has demonstrated all that can be achieved by self-discipline and commitment to a better quality of life. … We believe it is time for an end to this filibuster so that a vote may be recorded on this important nomination.”
COMLAMIC is a multi-denominational group of Hispanic Christian ministers and has nearly 800 member churches.
A second vote to break the Democrat filibuster of Estrada’s nomination was taken on Thursday. Democrats were successful once again in keeping the filibuster. Sixty votes are needed to break it.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has indicated he will continue pushing for enough votes to break the Democratic effort to prevent a full vote in the Senate. He told reporters recently, “I want people to see that we don’t fold, period, when we’re right on principle. I know that half my own caucus thinks we’ve prolonged this too long. But before this is over it will show that patience pays off, just like it does in medicine—persistence, when you know deep inside that you are right on an issue.” Before coming to the Senate, Dr. Frist was a well-known heart surgeon in Nashville.