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But the sensational WND story, which was highlighted on a website that is very popular among conservatives, went beyond analyzing the nomination in light of the Bush promise. The story claimed to have uncovered her positions on several controversial issues. The subheadline said, "Bush pick supported International Criminal Court, homosexual adoptions, women in combat, tax hike."

WorldNetDaily insisted that Miers endorsed the recommendations on the International Criminal Court and homosexual adoptions that she was merely passing along to ABA members. As its evidence for the charge, it claimed that "...during Miers long affiliation with the American Bar Association, she submitted a 1999 report to the ABA's house of delegates that included recommendations to develop and establish an International Criminal Court and the enactment of laws and public policy providing that the sexual orientation of adults be no bar to adoption of children."

It's true that Miers submitted the report. But that doesn't mean she agreed with those recommendations. It was her job to submit those reports to the ABA membership. There's no evidence in the documents that Miers was advising the ABA membership to adopt any of the policy recommendations. Instead, it is clear that she was advising that they consider and study them, in order to come to their own conclusions.

WorldNetDaily added, "Along with the proposed agenda was a memo, dated Oct. 28, 1998, that explained the document." It said, "The Committee urges all Delegates to review this list for items of interest to their constituencies, and to act as the catalyst for further contact and action so that each entity will have the earliest opportunity for consideration and input."

WND said, "The memo is signed by Miers as chairwoman of the Select Committee of the House."

But this memo doesn't prove what WND implies. This memo, which is a separate document, (web site) is a cover letter for the report. Miers was, in fact, one of 12 officials who signed and submitted the report.

It may be the case that Miers endorsed or even voted for these controversial positions as a member of the ABA. There is no evidence of that at this point. But the documents being cited by WND, and which apparently provided the basis for Novak's charge, do not prove it.

Accuracy in Media believes that the conservative media have every right - even an obligation - to subject Miers' record to scrutiny. But that effort must be undertaken with careful consideration and attention to the actual facts of the case.

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Cliff Kincaid is Editor of the AIM Report.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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