Bush sells Miers to wingers as an anti-choice reactionary.

[BurtWorm]

"Part of Harriet Miers's life is her religion," Mr. Bush went on, in remarks that may be revived during Ms. Miers's confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee several weeks from now. "Part of it has to do with the fact that she was a pioneer woman and a trailblazer in the law in Texas."

The president went on to say, in a brief question-answer session with reporters at the White House, that Ms. Miers was "eminently qualified" to sit on the court, and that she would be a justice who "will not legislate from the bench but strictly interpret the Constitution."

Mr. Bush's allusion to Ms. Miers came shortly after the conservative James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, was quoted as saying on a radio program that he had discussed the nominee's religious views with the president's chief political adviser, Karl Rove.

Mr. Dobson said he talked to Mr. Rove on Oct. 1, two days before Mr. Bush announced his choice, and had been told that "Harriet Miers is an Evangelical Christian, that she is from a very conservative church, which is almost universally pro-life, that she has taken on the American Bar Association on the issue of abortion and fought for a policy that would not be supportive of abortion, that she had been a member of the Texas Right to Life."


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/12/politics/politicsspecial1/12cnd-bush.html?ei=5094&en=5eb5ab8a955619ae&hp=&ex=1129176000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print


In essence, he's saying, "She's being put on there for one reason only: to overturn Roe v. Wade." (That must be all she's good for.)

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Ever get the feeling

he's playing both sides to the middle here?

[BurtWorm]

2. No.

I think he believes the right will go along with whatever he wants them to go along with. I don't think he cares about anyone to the left of Trent Lott.

[Inland]

4. Sure. So is the right wing, obviously, to even require

more frantic and secretive assurances than the Bush wink and nod.

Everyone knows Bush is trying to fool SOMEONE with his judicial nominations. The right wing just assumed Bush was lying to moderates. Now, the righties wonder....a man who is so readily duplicitous, he could be taking us for a ride?

It's not much of a realization, that a person who is duplicitous can't be trusted, I know. But the righties just got it.

[WI_DEM]

3. how the heck old is Miers? she was a pioneer woman!!

[cornermouse]

5. Litmus test? What litmus test?

Or alternatively:

Double standard? I don't see no double standard. Ain't no double standard round here and you can't prove otherwise...

:sarcasm:

[asjr]

6. This is clearly an infringement on the separation of

church and state. They are advocating for her based on her religion. Why does he not also put up a Jew, member of Islam, a Buddhist, etc. and let the Senate advise and consent. We have freedom of religion, but when one particular religion is granted first choice it is simply unconstitutional. We have freedom from religion also. Bush and Co. have danced all around this. This is forcing one religion on the people. Maybe I am wrong about this, but it is how I feel.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

8. I think that morally

you are correct, but I don't know if it is unconstitutional or not.

[cornermouse]

9. Whoa there.

According to the religious right, we do not have freedom FROM religion, we only have freedom OF religion. That means they can proselytize their little hearts out and the only right you have is to go in your house and lock the door or get in your car and drive away if you don't want to listen. What Bush is doing dovetails quite nicely with their religious beliefs.

[Poiuyt]

7. Bush is trying to sell Miers by saying that she's bat-shit crazy

The more Bush talks, the more she sounds like a wacko