How far out there on the far right is Douglas Kmiec? Waaaay out there. If you’re worried about the erosion of the separation between church and state, you should start panicking. If you believe the U.S. Constitution guarantees individual rights against the state rather than, in Kmiec’s view, representing Catholic natural law that can mould citizens’ souls, then be afraid. Worse than that, Kmiec is a supporter of the discredited Church hierarchy in its attempt to cover up its own tolerance of child-abusers and just penned an op-ed against California’s attempt to find a way to allow victims to sue in civil court for the abuses that occurred long ago. Earlier this year, he blamed the Church crisis on homosexuals and opposes the current Court’s decision, giving some limited protection for gay citizens, in Romer vs Evans. If the president chooses this man for the federal appeals court, he will be sending a clear signal. He will be saying that he supports the Catholic right’s political and social agenda, and wants to see its influence spread through the judiciary. He will be telling gay voters and their families that he is not their ally or friend but supports those who would continue scapegoating gays and denying them even a modicum of legal protection. A great week for compassionate conservatism: the Senate majority leader says he regrets desegregation and the administration floats the idea of nominating a far-right social conservative to the federal appeals court. Ah, yes. Hubris in the White House. Suddenly the Democrats seem more palatable, don’t they?
THE BLOGOSPHERE AND LOTT: Howie Kurtz notices how much quicker on the draw the blogosphere was on the matter of Trent Lott’s declared regrets for the passing of Jim Crow. I’m still stunned at how little the New York Times made of it (although Krugman seems to have drawn from lots of blogosphere arguments for his column today). Why this discrepancy? I don’t really know. One thought I have is that the media bigwigs really do operate socially in Washington and find it hard to pounce on people they know, like, respect or need as a source. That’s one reason I try hard to remain pretty socially reclusive in DC; and why I think occasional periods away from town actually helps you be a better journalist. The way in which people like David Broder or Bob Novak simply brushed this one aside is a sign, I think, less of their craven politics than of their DC socialization. Another advantage for the blogosphere. We don’t give a damn. And by and large, we say what we believe.
The Dish 