The biographical sketches of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers read like the day's horoscope--we're all gleaning exactly what we want to believe to meet our purposes. And like a horoscope, these statements are vague.
Much was made yesterday of a questionnaire Miers filled out while running for Dallas City Council in 1989. On it, she stated that she believed in civil rights for gays and lesbians. Now, for some evangelicals it would have been less controversial to write that she drowns puppies for sport. But then, clarifications on the blogs and in newspaper articles today challenge the notion that she is actually "pro gay."
For example, Andrew Sullivan points out that she also was opposed to overturning the anti-sodomy laws in Texas, laws which until recently had technically made any homosexual sex act illegal.
Sorry to drop the "S" bomb on you before breakfast, but it's true.There is also a report today in The Washington Post that Miers has said that her "personal conviction is not consistent with the homosexual lifestyle."
As a brief interjection, I love how gays have "lifestyles" and straights have "lives." Interesting.
Of course far bigger than this issue is her stance on abortion. This is the real deal-breaker for most people on either side of the issue. Yesterday the pro life bloggers were cautious to say the least, questioning her track record and commitment to life issues. Today they seem more at ease, as they have learned that Miers attends an evangelical church that is staunchly pro life. She has apparently told friends that she believes life begins at conception.
Buyer beware, though. Her close friend, Justice Nathan Hecht, said to The New York Times that you can be "as pro life as the day is long" but it doesn't mean you would overturn the precedent of Roe v. Wade. She's an enigma.
As for her take on big business, we know that Miers isn't "wealthy" in the old school GOP sense of that word, although if I had her money I would burn my own. That said, we also know that she was managing partner of a law firm that got slapped with a huge class action fraud suit, and as Texas Lottery Commissioner she cut a deal with a company involved in a bribery scandal. But who's counting?
What seems to be emerging is a candidate that neither side is embracing fully. As one blogger wrote at "Evangelical Outpost," she may belong to an evangelical church, but that doesn't make her a disciple."
Liberals hope to God she isn't, and the conservatives pray to Christ she is.
Today on the show: We're joined by three reporters live from Baghdad to bring us the latest from Iraq, but also share their experiences covering this war. We'll also take a look at the President's new green thumb. Since when do Republicans say the word "conservation?"
And if you have a question for our panel of reporters from Baghdad, email us at [email protected]
Links:
Pro Life Blogs
Talk Left
Andrew Sullivan
Ed Strong
Hard Astarboard
