Beginning at 9 a.m., the White House and the Republican Party began organizing a series of nearly a half-dozen conference calls with conservative organizers to relieve anxieties about Ms. Miers's views. In one call, friends of Ms. Miers, including Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court, testified to her evangelical Christian faith and devoted participation in the theologically conservative Valley View Christian Church in Dallas.

Mr. Hecht, in particular, assured them that she personally opposed abortion and had once attended "pro-life" events with him, said participants in the call. (He made similar statements in an interview with Marvin Olasky, editor of the Christian conservative World magazine, published on its Web site.) In Wednesday's New York Times, he describes her decision to convert. Even though, like President Bush, he says he never talked about abortion with her, they attended two some pro-life dinners together in the '90's. He's sure she's pro-life.

But, before the radical right goes orgiastic over this, Hecht also adds in this Times article:

"You can be just as pro-life as the day is long and can decide the Constitution requires Roe" to be upheld, he said.

One other thought: If I were a deeply spriritual and private person, as Ms. Miers appears to be, and one of my long-time friends started blabbing about my most personal beliefs and experiences to the media, he probably wouldn't remain a friend for long. What's wrong with this man? Does he really think he's helping her?