GOP Legal Heavy Dismisses Right-Wing Assault, Defends Obama Nominee Harold Koh

[babylonsister]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/gop-legal-heavy-ted-olson-dismisses-right-wing-assault-on-obama-nominee/

GOP Legal Heavy Ted Olson Dismisses Right-Wing Assault On Obama Nominee


Theodore Olson, the top conservative attorney who served under Reagan and George W. Bush, dismissed attacks from the right on Obama’s choice for a top legal post, defending the pick as a “man of great integrity.”

Right-wingers from Glenn Beck to Fox News are waging a loud campaign against Harold Koh, the nominee for the key post of legal adviser to the state department, saying he’s willing to impose Sharia law on U.S. courts and wants to subjugate America to international law.

Olson doesn’t think much of the criticism.

“The President and the Secretary of State are entitled to have who they want as their legal adviser,” Olson said in a phone interview with me.

Olson was sharply dismissive of claims that Koh is too solicitous of international law. While he declined to discuss the specifics of the case against Koh, much of which has been already debunked, he pushed back hard against the broader claim that Koh’s regard for international law is cause for suspicion.

“He has been in international law his entire professional life,” Olson said. “Of course he’s very involved in the subject.”

Olson, who argued the Bush side in Bush v. Gore and was solicitor general under Bush, carries great weight among conservatives, so his defense of Koh is likely to take the steam out of the right’s campaign. Koh worked under Olson in the Reagan Justice Department.

“I have the greatest respect for Harold Koh,” Olson said. “He’s a brilliant scholar and a man of great integrity.”

Many defenders of Koh have wondered who is going to stand up and defend Koh. Olson isn’t a bad start.

[droidamus2]

1. Over and Over

The Republicans continually do this they based their opposition to 'something' or 'someone' based on sound bites. They obviously determined that their base would react to the phrase 'international law' so they oppose a good man just because it will play to their base. When you say 'international law' to their base they hear 'one world order'.

[Supersedeas]

2. tone deaf even to their own, much less a popular President and the American people