Republicans see win-win with Saad

Washington Times ^ | 7/28/03 | Charles Hurt

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Republicans have picked Henry Saad — President Bush's judicial nominee from Michigan who is of Arab descent — as the face of their next high-profile nominations battle.

If Democrats continue to block the nomination, Republicans aim to capitalize on it during the next presidential election with the large Arab community in Michigan, a state viewed as crucial to Mr. Bush's re-election.

[dr_who_2]

Intellectually honest ideology and courage beats this identity politics crap by a mile and two centuries.

[freedom44]

Good for him. There are many patriotic Arab-Americans, it's a real shame that a few have destroyed the name.

I also totally support Darrell Issa another Arab-American for the seat in California.

[nathanbedford]

In the past I hve supported the exploitation of identity politics in connection with the nomination of Miguel Estrada. That of course involves the all important hispanic vote.

Recently, the republicans have sought to exploit the judicial nominations quagmire with the catholic vote.

Now it appears that the republicans are threatening to exploit the Arab vote.

At some level, I become uneasy about this. I am fully aware that if it were not for the lock on the Afro-American vote, stirred up every cycle by cynical race baiting, the democrat party would lose all hope of welding national majority power. Should we become like them? Do we have a choice?

Does the exploitation of identity politics (read race baiting) inevitably lead to retalliation of like kind or is there another way? Would we have been better off taking on the dems on these nominations strictly on constitutional grounds? That is, they are distorting the constitution by demanding a super majority for confirmation?

But who would listen? I simply cannot project that this arcane argument would capture the hispanic imagination and prompt them to abandon the democrats. But if they see this as the mistreatment of a worthy hispanic, it well might. This is only human nature and only the way we have played politics in this country since colonial days.

More, the premptive use of identify politics by the republicans can be justified, or rationalized if you prefer, as a prophylaxis. We know the democrats will try to divide this country against itself to gain themselves power, so we do this to immunize the country against the practice. Hispanics who see the democrats as insensitive to Miguel Estrada will be less likely to believe that the democrat party is their only choice to protect them aganist the prejudiced anglos in the republican party. Eventually, the democrats ability to exploit groups will fatally diminish and the party will be equally diminished as a national force.

But, even if the republicans have no choice but to play this way, it still does not sit well and I would prefer a higher road - but not if that road leads only to the political wilderness.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

At some level, I become uneasy about this

So am I. It's playing politics at our expense. Anyone know what this Saad stands for?

[squidly]

Since the Rats seem intent on filibustering any GOP judicial nominee, might as well find a way to make some hay out of it. Whether we do or whether we don't, those judges are still getting filibustered.

[superloser]

Since the Rats seem intent on filibustering any GOP judicial nominee, might as well find a way to make some hay out of it.

In the process, we may just turn this country into one whose politics are ONLY based on racial identity.

This bodes ill for the future. VERY ill.

Does anyone want to live in a country where everything is racially oriented? If you do, there are some nice villas for sale cheap in the Balkans.

If we go down this hole too far, we can say hello to "Civil War II."

This is very, VERY bad. Tensions are high enough with the race-baiters stirring things up as much as they do. We do NOT need more of it.

[JohnnyZ]

Recently, the republicans have sought to exploit the judicial nominations quagmire with the catholic vote.

Recently, Democrats have said that judges who have orthodox Catholic beliefs should not be eligible for the federal bench.

You don't think this should be an issue? I'm Catholic and I'm damn sure it SHOULD be an issue!!!

[nathanbedford]

Recently, Democrats have said that judges who have orthodox Catholic beliefs should not be eligible for the federal bench.

But they did not, to the best of my knowledge, say they should not be eligible BECAUSE they are Catholics. We cannot say that people with odious views are exempt from criticism because they adhere to a certain religion, else how could we deny islamisists control of our institutions?

I do think it is ligitimate to argue that democrats' agenda compels them to make war on catholic values and the effect on catholics who seek the bench is the same. I think we can defend making war on islamists' values and I do not think the democrats can defend their stealth war on catholic values. However, if push comes to shove, I stand by my last observation:

But, even if the republicans have no choice but to play this way, it still does not sit well and I would prefer a higher road - but not if that road leads only to the political wilderness.

[MEGoody]

"Does anyone want to live in a country where everything is racially oriented?"

To a large extent, we already do.

[MEGoody]

"Does anyone want to live in a country where everything is racially oriented?"

To a large extent, we already do.

[MEGoody]

"But they did not, to the best of my knowledge, say they should not be eligible BECAUSE they are Catholics."

I see. So you think the Dems would support a Catholic being a judge as long as he doesn't believe like a Catholic.

Um, okay.

[nathanbedford]

I see. So you think the Dems would support a Catholic being a judge as long as he doesn't believe like a Catholic.

Yup and the more apostate the better.

[superloser]

To a large extent, we already do.

But is that a country you want to live in?