What Karl Rove told James Dobson

Per Dobson, why W passed over certified wingnuts and nominated Harriet Miers:

"What Karl told me is that some of those individuals took themselves off that list and they would not allow their names to be considered, because the process has become so vicious and so vitriolic and so bitter that they didn't want to subject themselves or the members of their families to it," Dobson said.

Who's he accusing of being "vicious," "vitriolic" and "bitter?" This sounds like projection.