Posted on 10/11/2005 6:14:59 AM PDT by Sometimes A River
COVINGTON, Louisiana (Reuters) - First lady Laura Bush joined her husband in defending his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday and said it was possible some critics were being sexist in their opposition to Harriet Miers.
"That's possible, I think that's possible," Mrs. Bush said when asked on NBC's "Today Show" whether criticism that Miers lacked intellectual heft were sexist in nature. She said Miers' accomplishments as a lawyer were a role model to young women.
...
Mrs. Bush, who had publicly supported the nomination of a woman to the high court, noted that Miers had been president of the Texas Bar Association.
"I know Harriet well, I know how accomplished she is, I know how many times she's broken the glass ceiling herself. She is a role model for young women around our country," she said.
How about more than half of the male redneck population in the South?
Exactly. Nor do I (and Laura Bush certainly didn't say) say the critics are outright sexists. That's nonsense. But they have reached for any and all ammunition to hurl at the woman and made some very unfortunate comments.
So can I construe this nomination as being motivated by sexism?
It seems that Laura Bush, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and GWB himself insisted upon only hiring a female for this position.
It is most unfortunate. Though, I like President Bush and voted for him twice, I NEVER saw him as a Reagan conservative. He also doesn't have quite the same level of guts either.
Conservatives would prefer JRB over Roberts because of her judicial record, not because they'd charge Roberts with being an intellectual lightweight.
I don't think I consider any truly successful person to be an intellectual lightweight.
While they might not be a part of the elitist "intelligentsia," they are definitely gifted with strong intellectual ability in one or more of its many varieties.
What Laura Bush said: "It's POSSIBLE that SOME critics were being sexist."
What the moonbats heard: "All critics are definitely sexist."
The FACT is that there have been posts in the last eight days right here on Free Republic deriding Miers's experience in blatantly sexist terms.
I agree with posters who say that, for MOST people, the sexism charge is bogus; the nomination of Janice Rogers Brown would have been celebrated here (and viciously attacked by the Black Establishment, BTW). It's also true that some of the comments deriding her as a "secretary" would never have been made if she was a man.
Laura 1, Moonbats 0.
Hmm. Do you think she was maligning you, personally? Did you think she was referring to YOU? If not, why's it bother you?
I've illustrated the point more than aptly in several posts. It's not ridiculous and she was right to say it's possible.
I'll not soon be upset when someone speaks the truth.
Yes, of course, sexists exist in this country of 300 million.
But to make the sweeping implication that those who oppose Miers do it b/c they are sexist is absurd.
Does she offer any evidence?
I can name several female potential nominees who many critics of Miers would have been delighted with.
And, if a sexist opponent of Miers had of supported one of these women, then they would have been inconsistent.
Mrs Bush needs to understand that calling her friends "sexist" is insulting. When a name is used, it needs to be backed up with, well, with something akin to a fact or two. This is so insulting.
Yes, but only if the decision was based on sex, rather than qualifications. (And just what ARE Harriet Miers' qualifications, anyway?) The mere fact that a decision was based on sex implies that the decision was a sexist one. "Diversity" is another way of saying "politically correct sexism/racism".
It's a boldfaced lie and shameful on the part of the whitehouse and Mrs. Bush.
Does she offer any evidence?
You are completely mischaracterizing what Laura Bush said. That speaks volumes.
I can name several female potential nominees who many critics of Miers would have been delighted with.
Of course. Nobody is questioning that. Nobody is saying the critics are outright sexists.
It is very insulting.
And as Rush just said, these types of charges are made by those who don't have the guts to debate the issue, so they rely on a personal smear to discredit their opponents.
Very Democrat-esque, if you ask me.
Where have you "heard" them say it????
Well said.
I don't believe I am mischaracterizing her comments.
I've read the transcript, I've heard the comments replayed on the radio.
Her implication was clear...those who don't support Miers are doing so because they are sexist.
She's simply repeating the charge WH spokesman Ed Gillespie said.
Two members of the WH imply that Miers opposition is borne out of sexism...it's becoming a trend, and it's insulting.
In conversations in restaurants, baseball games, football games, NASCAR races, where else would you like to know? Geez, there really are people out there who are sexist and are complaining about Miers. Okay? Get a grip, folks!
Ditto that. The moonbats are out today in full force...
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