Thune interviewed by Lou Dobbs

Here's a partial transcript of Senator-elect Thune being interviewed by Lou Dobbs last night:

DOBBS: Senator Specter here last night, was adamant that he would not in any way impose a litmus test and as a matter of fact made a very persuasive case that he had been misquoted, if you would, by the press. I know you can`t imagine that occurring, but it apparently is precisely what did happen.

THUNE: My expectation is that if the system stays as it is today. And that is that the seniority system that sort of drives the chairmanships and the committee assignments in the Senate continues, that the Judiciary Committee will probably support Senator Specter.

But there are a number of us that have questions. I think what he said last week -- there were a lot of us who were bothered by that. And I expect that when we get into orientation next week that there will be a number of questions that are raised with respect to the statements that Senator Specter made, his intentions with respect to moving judicial nominations and I hope that we have a fairly full discussion of that so that everybody has a comfort level as the process moves forward.

DOBBS: You, in your campaign, did not make much of religion. You are pro- life, anti-gay marriage, but you didn`t see fit to put your own religion on prominent display. Do you think that we`re seeing a period -- a beginning of a period in which religion and public service is going to be intertwined inextricably?

THUNE: Well, I think that what you saw this time was people in the faith community saw the importance of this election. And that was as it pertains to judges, perhaps a couple of vacancies on the Supreme Court, what that means for the future of the country on some of these cultural issues.

And I think there was a real concern among the electorate, in particular people in the faith community, that the country was beginning to drift left. And you look at some of these issues on family and on marriage and on the sanctity of life, and where we`ve sort of headed and where the courts have started to take us, and I think that was a reaction against that.

And I think people across the country said this time around that they are going to come out, they are going to vote their values and they are going to put their faith into practice, so to speak, when it comes to the ballot box.

And I don`t think that means that they`re going to be intertwined. I think what it means is that people of faith are exercising their responsibilities and rights and privileges in this democracy to have their voice heard.

And I think that that was the voice that was heard on Election Day. And I think that there has been some analysis by the media, was it the war on terror or was it the economy? And I think that there was a big undercurrent out there of people who, on the issues of morality and values, wanted to make sure that the country wasn`t drifting too far to the left and that we stood up for those traditional values.

And I think that`s a good thing. I think people need to be involved in the political process. And people who have strong convictions have every right to have their voice heard in this process. And I think that`s what they did this year.

DOBBS: Well, the voice of John Thune will soon be added to the U.S. Senate in Congress. We congratulate you for your victory and look forward to talking to you again soon. Senator-elect John Thune.