Blog of Billy

What follows is some analysis of Scott McClellan's characterization of what constitutes experience and qualification to be a Justice of the United States. We begin back when Ms. Miers was the heir-riet apparent.

10/05/2005: ...one of the nation's top women lawyers. She has clerked for a federal judge back in -- this was back in 1970. I don't think there were very many women clerking for federal district judges at that point in time. She has been a trailblazer for women in the legal profession.

10/07/2005: She has been a pioneer and trailblazer for women in the legal profession. She was clerking for a federal district judge back in 1970, and I don't think there were many women clerking for federal judges back at that time.

10/12/2005: She is someone who has been a trailblazer for women in the legal profession. She has broken the glass ceiling when it comes to the legal profession in Texas, serving as the first woman president of the Dallas Bar Association and then the first woman president of the Texas Bar Association.

Awfully repetitive, but these are official talking points. Imagine my and the White House Press Corps's surprise when President Bush's spokesman starts rewriting history as soon as it becomes apparent that we're back to appointing a white man.

10/31/2005: (On the 'trailblazer' quotes above and Bush's desire to keep a womun on the Court): I don't know about that characterization. I do know that everything that the President said and that I said from this podium was focused on her qualifications and experience and her judicial philosophy, and that's why he selected her. Now, the President anytime he considers people for the bench, he looks at a diverse group of potential nominees. And that's what he's always done. He certainly, in the last few instances when there have been vacancies, has carefully considered women that might serve on those vacancies, too. But he appointed the person who he felt was the best person to fill this vacancy at this time.

So her sex and gender are relevant to her qualifications and experience for the first two weeks, but as soon as it's inconvenient to the new nominee, diversity is no longer part of being the 'best person' for the job? Please.

We are far too young and clever. Remember!