Laura Bush says sexism possible in Miers criticism

Reuters ^ | Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:46 AM ET | By Tabassum Zakaria

[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.

[Sometimes A River]

Taking issue with being called "sexist" is the "extreme conservative line?"

And, no one is trying to "shut down" Laura Bush. And no one is "trashing" her either.

You prove my point. Ad hominem attacks are all you have left.

[NCSteve]

"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.

This is pure, unadulterated liberal-speak. The hand that rocks the cradle...

[GraniteStateConservative]

Harriet Miers ran the Texas Lottery Commission.

She was a Bush best friend for 15 years. That's all she needed to put on her "application", apparently.

[TommyDale]

"Of course it is possible, but because a thing is possible does not mean it is likely. The question is frivolous."

Thank you for your comment. That was my feeling as well, but some people here go off like a hair trigger.

[Always Right]

And what was behind the genius of switch Roberts from the O'Connor replacement to the Rehnquist replacement? If Bush/Rove were geniuses, they would have kept Roberts as the O'Connor replacement which already had the gang of 7 approval for, and tried to get a real paper trail conservative in for the conservative Rehnquist spot. A wasted opportunity. The Roberts for O'Connor move was pure genius.

[Sweetjustusnow]

I watched the interview of President Bush and Laura by Matt Lauer (sp)?

What caught my ear more than anything was hearing Matt refer to President Bush as "Mr. Clinton" as he led in to the segment about Meirs. The liberals still can't seem to address the President correctly, even when they make a faux pas and call the President "Mr." Clinton. lol

[AntiGuv]

bump!

[Sloth]

Yes, there is a difference between the two: a conservative would jump at the first chance a case presented to ban abortion, while an originalist would refer said issue to the states.

Simply untrue. You are buying into the D.U. definition of conservative.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

I think time in Washington is getting to George and Laura. Please note that Laura responded to a question and did not level the charge outright.

Part of the problem is that George is trying to be the good guy. He needs to go to the mattresses. Nominate a strict constructionist, cut back on spending and protect the borders.

[PzLdr]

Did you know that Joghn Marshall invented the shell game we call judicial review? That the first activist opinion was MARBURY v. MADISON? I wouldn't be praising him to argue for Miers.

[jla]

Laura Bush surely isn't on a par with Phyllis Schlafly, but I wouldn't say she's a lib.

[oblomov]

>>I'm in favor of confirming this nomination as the most qualified person, where one of the most important >>qualifications is confirmability

Non-sequitur...this is like saying that we should teach elementary school with comic books because of superior readibility.

[safisoft]

Read my comment again with the emphasis on "possible".

Read my comment again with the emphasis on IMPOSSIBLE. To suggest the sexist angle is not only a low blow, it is one that is demonstrably false. It is likely a MAJORITY of people who oppose this nomination prefered one of the conservative WOMEN who have proven themselves in the trenches. The rest, would have been content with ANYONE who was demonstrably conservative.

The "possible" sexism is merely a cautious liberal speaking. The effect is the same: a charge of sexism. Wake up.

[indcons]

Ping

[Howlin]

Is that a macro? To be as smart as you all claim to be, you all sound remarkably like unoriginal parrots.

[Always Right]

Thank you for your comment. That was my feeling as well, but some people here go off like a hair trigger.

It is an unsupportable divisive charge. It is like saying Bush was responsible for blowing up the levees. Certainly 'possible', but only fuels further division.

[jla]

I think trashing any and everybody who doesn't tow the extreme conservative line pretty much sucks.

What exactly is the "extreme conservative line"?

You all demand to have your opinions count while trying to shout down all others.

I see this from some on all sides.

[Howlin]

Thanks for confirming my original point.

[oblomov]

>>I think is some cases, it could very well be that sexism
>>is a reason for criticizing Harriet Miers' nomination.

I can't recall anyone at FR or in the commentariat bringing up Miers' plumbing.

[GraniteStateConservative]

So now Mrs. Bush is calling those who oppose Miers ...sexist.

We're all racist homophobes, too, I'm sure, somehow or the other.