Monday, July 25, 2005
Chillin' With Satan
There's a simple test to determine whether something is political principle or political hackery. A politician getting ready to float an idea should ask: "If a member of the opposition were to say exactly the same thing I am about to say, would I find it politically acceptable?" If the answer is "yes, I would accept it," you are about to articulate a principle. If the answer is "no," you're a hack.
Cue Rick Santorum, hack: "I don't think your wife's activities should have any impact on what a judge is going to do. I certainly would think that he would tell you they don't, nor should they. It's the facts of a case and the law of a case." Santorum was on the Today show this morning discussing Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, and the fact that Roberts' wife is the former executive VP of Feminists for Life, an anti-abortion group, and still does pro bono work for the organization. Santorum, anticipating controversy over those ties, wants everybody to know that they're no bigger a deal than Mrs. Roberts' membership in the Book of the Month Club or the Catholic Ladies Quilting Circle would be, and that everybody should just chill.
If there were ever a case where something doesn't pass the principle-or-hackery test, Santorum's remark is it. I fully agree with Santorum that Mrs. Roberts shouldn't--and most likely won't--have any effect on the way her husband votes on the Supreme Court. But that's not the point. The point is that if the circumstances were exactly reversed--if the nominee were a liberal sent up by a Democrat--Santorum would run over his grandmother to get to a microphone to bitch about the political ties of the nominee's wife. The point is the hypocrisy.
There's a simple test to determine whether something is political principle or political hackery. A politician getting ready to float an idea should ask: "If a member of the opposition were to say exactly the same thing I am about to say, would I find it politically acceptable?" If the answer is "yes, I would accept it," you are about to articulate a principle. If the answer is "no," you're a hack.
Cue Rick Santorum, hack: "I don't think your wife's activities should have any impact on what a judge is going to do. I certainly would think that he would tell you they don't, nor should they. It's the facts of a case and the law of a case." Santorum was on the Today show this morning discussing Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, and the fact that Roberts' wife is the former executive VP of Feminists for Life, an anti-abortion group, and still does pro bono work for the organization. Santorum, anticipating controversy over those ties, wants everybody to know that they're no bigger a deal than Mrs. Roberts' membership in the Book of the Month Club or the Catholic Ladies Quilting Circle would be, and that everybody should just chill.
July 25, 2010: Washington was abuzz today with news that Debbie Fnortner, the wife of Federal District Judge Axel Fnortner, nominated by President Feingold last week to replace impeached Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, is a former legal counsel for the Church of Satan. Mrs. Fnortner still does pro bono work for the church, but is no longer involved with the group on a day-to-day basis. On the Today show this morning, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "I don't think your wife's activities should have any impact on what a judge is going to do. I certainly would think that he would tell you they don't, nor should they. It's the facts of a case and the law of a case."Still chillin', Senator?
If there were ever a case where something doesn't pass the principle-or-hackery test, Santorum's remark is it. I fully agree with Santorum that Mrs. Roberts shouldn't--and most likely won't--have any effect on the way her husband votes on the Supreme Court. But that's not the point. The point is that if the circumstances were exactly reversed--if the nominee were a liberal sent up by a Democrat--Santorum would run over his grandmother to get to a microphone to bitch about the political ties of the nominee's wife. The point is the hypocrisy.
