The man who would be FHA chief faced stiff questions from Senate Democrats at his confirmation hearing this week. But John Weicher’s performance was apparently good enough to soften some industry opposition to his bid to serve as the nation’s top housing official. "We were very pleased with the tack that he took at the hearings today,"said Jerry Howard, executive director of the National Association of Homebuilders. "We are pleased with Weicher’s statements about FHA