White House Shifts Its Lobbying Strategy

The Washington Post ^ | 10/15/05 | Peter Baker

[NapkinUser]

The White House, caught off guard by the intensity of the conservative backlash to Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers, plans to try to refocus the debate over the next week onto her legal qualifications and away from issues such as her religion, senior presidential advisers said yesterday.

Acknowledging that the campaign for Miers had slipped out of their control, the advisers said they will seek to validate her credentials for the high court through a series of media appearances, newspaper opinion pieces and letters of support from various people who have known the White House counsel during her previous career as a corporate lawyer and bar association leader in Texas.

[Map Kernow]

Nothing you've thrown against the wall has gotten any traction.

So the WH is changing its lobbying strategy on Miers just 'cause the old strategy didn't go with the Oval Office decor?

[sinkspur]

They could take up my suggestion to enact a law that any person who ever ran a state gaming commission is forever barred from being a Supreme Court judge...or any judge...

Why? Are you one of those fundies who think gambling corrupts anybody it touches?

Unless somebody actually breaks the law, there is no reason to exclude ANYBODY from serving as a judge or Justice.

[sinkspur]

So the WH is changing its lobbying strategy on Miers just 'cause the old strategy didn't go with the Oval Office decor?

It's called stalling. All the WH has to do is keep David Frum in a box for the next two weeks.

[sine_nomine]

Let us not forget that W. graduated from Yale and Harvard, not from SMU. I think Laura knew Harriet at SMU.

Hearing "elistist" from a third-generation Skull and Bones man (Bush II, Grampa Prescott Bush) and Harvard MBA graduate is a bit silly.

I did not expect the next nominee to be and Ivy Leaguer. I did expect "a Scalia or Thomas," the promise made many times over. Instead we got a Day or a Souter.

[nerdgirl]

This new strategy is a joke. The fact that they are publicizing their great strategy is an even bigger joke, as it's pretty obvious that if this 2nd strategy had merit, it would have been used right off the bat. What team begins a trial with the evidence least likely to convince a jury?

Didn't anticipate the backlash? Who's fault was that? And sicking the attack mechanisms on the very people who got you elected rather than having Miers step down gracefully - who exactly decided that was the best course of action? I've heard some grumblings about National Review magazine here - but like it or not, that magazine has been a big amigo de George Bush. He just had a big 50th birthday party for them at the White House last week. Many of the staff and guest writers have close relationships with people in very high places in the WH, military, intelligence, Senate, etc - and these guys are not exactly a bunch of hacks who write spiteful articles about the Bush administration just for the heck of it. To think that the White House had no clue how they and many others in similar positions would respond - is downright pathetic. And to have lacked the foresight to know how their base might respond if an inadequate nominee were put forth - suggests they don't know their base very well, or don't care.

No matter where you fall in this debate, as a conservative you have to be shaking your head at least a little bit that the Bush administration has gotten itself into this mess. That is, unless you're all about blaming your fellow conservatives instead. The people who worked the polls with you, donated money alongside you, and worked to get millions of additional Republicans to the polls in 2000 and 2004. Yes, it's surely these people who are to blame for Bush's current problems...

[Shermy]

"Why? Are you one of those fundies who think gambling corrupts anybody it touches?"

I might be unfairly projecting Nevada prejudices.

;)

[Map Kernow]

Let us not forget that W. graduated from Yale and Harvard, not from SMU.

What's that gospel parable about the mote in one's brother's eye versus the beam in one's own?

I think Laura knew Harriet at SMU.

Well, Laura certainly cares that both she and Miers went to SMU---she was apparently pushing GW hard for the Miers pick, she and GW and Miers had a private dinner together the night before the announcement, and I wouldn't be surprised if Laura came up with the charges that critics of Miers are "elitist" and "sexist."

[nerdgirl]

Map you know I'm on your side here, but making suppositions about the first lady will only make people less likely to listen to the valid things you have to say.

We don't know what role she has played, but she is a gracious woman who has restored dignity to the position after 8 long years of shame at the hands of Hillary Clinton.

[sine_nomine]

Laura used the sexist slander when interviewed by that champion of honesty, Matt Lauer. Whether she came up with it or not, she insulted everyone who was looking for a superb justice (whether male or female). Too bad the President and the First Lady shift the focus from ideas and philosophy to ad hominem, no pun intended.

[Map Kernow]

It's called stalling.

Ah yes! "Stalling." Bespeaks strength, tenacity, organization and preparation. Yep, yep, yep!

All the WH has to do is keep David Frum in a box for the next two weeks.

BWAHAHA! Yep, that's all they have to do! Why don't they just send him off tomorrow on a Carnival cruise for two weeks with two beautiful blondes? That'll cinch the nomination!

[Cautor]

I can't believe they have come to the conclusion legal qualifications trump her ability to write nice birthday cards. It's too bad her legal qualifications are up to proving she's the best candidate around, even if she headed the Texas Lottery Commission.

[Revolting cat!]

So, it's gone from:

Trust me, she's a holy roller!

to:

Trust me, she's qualified!

[Cautor]

Actually, they have another stunt. They're bring in judges from Texas to trumpet Miers legal acumen.

[Map Kernow]

We don't know what role she has played, but she is a gracious woman who has restored dignity to the position after 8 long years of shame at the hands of Hillary Clinton.

I'm going by what I heard from Mike Reagan on Hannity just tonight---Laura did push for the Miers nomination, according to him. What's "undignified" about a wife consulting with her husband, even on a judicial appointment? How does describing the role she had in the Miers nomination make her seem "ungracious"? Saying this with respect, I think you're overreacting a tad.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

John Hill is a former Dem attorney general and candidate for Govennor against the Bill Clements.

[nerdgirl]

Sorry I was referring to this line here

and I wouldn't be surprised if Laura came up with the charges that critics of Miers are "elitist" and "sexist."

Despite my respect for her, I too am upset that she apparently pushed for affirmative action, and that she didn't "just say no" to Matt Lauers - but I don't figure her for a negative spinmiester as suggested above.

No ill will intended - just wanted to point that out.

[Map Kernow]

From what I've seen and heard, that should be:

She's a holy roller! (with qualifications....)

[Map Kernow]

No ill will here either--I'll amend my statement to read, "I wouldn't be surprised if a certain someone came up with the charges that critics of Miers are 'elitist' and 'sexist,' but I'll wait for the hearings." ;-D

[GoreLoser]

You're right on target that the new "qualifications" strategy is a joke -- it's BECAUSE Miers lacks qualifications and any record of a judicial philosophy that the WH played the evangelical card first, the same result-oriented approach to the Supreme Court for which lefties are correctly castigated. And this from an administration that mouths the principle of merit over identity politics.

This episode gets sorrier and sorrier. About all that's left is for the WH to come down on senators for picking on such a nice lady when Harriet throws up all over herself at the hearings.

[Texas Federalist]

let me guess, you're just another knee jerk bush hating moveon.org 'conservative'!!

. . . and elitist, don't forget that. I also kick small animals and, like Mike Tyson, eat children. I was also called a Nazi and a fascist today by "68 Grunt". He's good for endless entertainment.