Elena Kagan: Aharon Barak my judicial hero

[oberliner]

The New York Times reported Friday morning that Republican and conservative elements have been trying to hurt the chances of US President Barack's Obama's candidate for the Supreme Court, using a statement she made four years ago in favor of retired Israeli Supreme Court President Aharon Barak.

According to the report, in 2006, during her term as dean of Harvard Law School, Elena Kagan introduced Judge Barak during an award ceremony as “my judicial hero.” She added, “He is the judge or justice in my lifetime whom, I think, best represents and has best advanced the values of democracy and human rights, of the rule of law and of justice.”

The White House explained that Kagan was simply welcoming back a former student; Judge Barak studied at Harvard in the 1960s. But Kagan’s opponents have rolled out Judge Barak — “the other Barack,” as some call him in reference to President Obama — as Exhibit A in the case against her.

Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Thursday called Kagan’s introduction “very troubling” and suggested it “might provide real insight into her approach to the law.”

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3910619,00.html

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. The Israeli Supreme Court...

...under Barak frequently stood in the way of some of the Israeli right's more egregious stunts. I don't see this as a bad thing, ticking off the haredim.

Of course, the Third Temple/Second Coming posse wouldn't care for him. And he seems to really piss off Richard Posner -- which is a plus.

[oberliner]

2. Seems like the Republicans are grasping at straws

Hopefully this bodes well for her confirmation.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

3. How lame are these clowns?...... Don't bother strictly rhetorical. nt

[JI7]

4. so this means Obama is secretly Israeli ?

[NoPasaran]

5. A secret Israeli Kenyan Socialist Muslim Nazi!

He makes Superman look like a pizza delivery guy.