US: US president George Bush said yesterday he would not choose his Supreme Court candidate based on their position on specific issues such as abortion or gay marriage. "I'll pick people who . . . will strictly interpret the constitution and not use the bench to legislate from," he said.
Under pressure from opposing activists to pick someone who would either uphold abortion or work to outlaw it, and legalise or outlaw gay marriage, Mr Bush ruled out any such "litmus test" in making his choice.
"There will be no litmus test," he said, repeating his position during his 2000 and 2004 presidential campaigns.
Mr Bush also called on activists of the left and right to lower the tone over whom he should pick in his first nomination to the nine-judge court, an appointment which is for an unlimited term.
He urged senators, who must confirm his choice, not to listen to special interest groups "on the extremes", whom he accused of exploiting the court battle.
"This is an opportunity for good public servants to exhibit a civil discourse on a very important matter and not let these groups dictate the rhetoric, the tone," said Mr Bush, who was celebrating his 59th birthday.
But Nancy Keenan, president of Pro-Choice America, doubted Mr Bush's pledge not to give candidates a litmus test on abortion.
"This president has no credibility - to date, he has appointed more than 200 judges to the federal courts - not one of whom supported a woman's right to choose," she said.
At a joint news conference with Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Mr Bush defended his attorney general, fellow Texan Alberto Gonzales, against criticism from conservatives that he is too moderate to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Conservatives have mounted a campaign against Mr Gonzales, who has been mentioned as a possible replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.