The truth of the matter is that the line of questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee for Judge Alito was not very tough, and the over-reaction of Alito’s wife is more theater than substance. In the past 20 years we have witnessed much harsher and more direct questioning of a nominee, and so one must view this little episode in the context of the times.
We do not know why anyone would volunteer to sit in those horrible chairs hour after hour, looking adoringly at the nominee at one moment, and mystified at legal arguments the next moment. To use your spouse as a political token seems cheap, but that is what took place here. And maybe she wanted only to be there on the opening day, but was urged to be there everyday for the visual image it created on television. If Alito’s views on marriage are anything like his views on legal matters, I am probably right on target.
As I watched her little 15 minutes of fame yesterday, I thought of State Representative Betty Jo Nelson, the Minority Leader of the Wisconsin State Assembly, who told the Legislature many years back that the December session was running too late into the month. She insisted she should be home making Christmas cookies. The image of strong, self-contained, and purposeful women took a slam on the floor of the State Assembly, and again yesterday in front of a nation.
No one can live in such a secluded world that she doesn't understand that when your spouse is selected for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, some very serious questions and examinations are going to follow. No objective viewer who watched the hearings could say that the Democrats were too aggressive. In fact I would argue that they were far too compliant and once again occupied the spongy center rather than standing on principle.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Bing
MMMMM if you think Ted Kennedy is more representative of the American public than Sam Alito then you're the crazy one.
2 - Aaman
Interesting post - there's very little difference, and has rarely been, between theater and politics
3 - Scott
She actually started crying during a question by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham when he asked Alito if he was a closet bigot. I'm not sure if the GOP scored any "points" on that or not.
4 - Bing
Scott, Lindsey Grahm was being facetious in an attempt to point out what assholes the Dems had been in thier line of questioning.
5 - Scott
Well, that logic doesn't follow Bing. You don't get GOP points either.
6 - Bing
Sure it does because it is the truth Scott.
That's exactly how it went down Scott.
7 - Michael J. West
Lindsey Graham has been Alito's lapdog since well before the hearings, when he coached him. And he's certainly been fawning all over the man during the hearings themselves.
8 - Scott
Well, Bing, that's not really how it went down or the truth but whatever. There's no point in going back and forth about it. Plus, I realize you lean right so you really don't care about and have no use for the truth anyway.
Baaa-zinggg!
Oh snap, son.
9 - Sister Ray
I agree that a spouse of a politician should expect slings and arrows, and that his/her personal reaction shouldn't sway the decision, but I'm not a fan of the Democrats.
10 - Michael J. West
I agree that a spouse of a politician should expect slings and arrows, and that his/her personal reaction shouldn't sway the decision, but I'm not a fan of the Democrats.
But what does that mean, Sister Ray? That you'd have been okay with it if the Republicans had been the aggressor?
11 - Scott
Senator Graham asked a very pointed question. Mrs. Alito cried just thinking about the insinuation that her husband was a bigot. I can understand the tears. It's not really a Democrat or Republican thing. I don't think anyone "scored points" over it.
12 - greg
just a note... if the "national mood" is anti-bush... why did he get re-elected? the mood hasn't really changed since then.
13 - allendrury
Take the issues of spying on Americans, the Iraq war, abortion, or any other in a long series of topics and find out where the public is on those matters and contrast that with the policies coming from the White House.
Many factors go into the selection of a President, and if you think they all revolve around the issues that confrot the 'winner' I would suggest a trip to a library.
14 - Scott
You don't think the mood has changed since November of 2004, Greg? Were you asleep this year?
15 - Sister Ray
Michael, I didn't word that very well. I meant to say that I generally support Alito, and lean more to the Rebuplican side of the scale (actually libertarian).
But I'm not upset with the questioning because, "They made his wife cry, the meanies!" Tough questioning is part of the process.
16 - Bing
Sister Ray....
I didn't see tough questioning coming from Kennedy.
I saw a blatant attempt to assissante Alito's character on baseless grounds.
17 - Jeff
So, this doesn't qualify as the kind "personal attack" prohibited in the comments?
18 - Justin Berry
The Mood really hasnt changed since 2004. The Libs are still licking their collective wounds. The majority still dont care how springsteen and Ben Affleck feel. The Red sox are back where they belong New England had its 15-minutes. The New York Times and the L.A. Times are still in the most Liberal places in the Nation, Hence out of step with the majority of Americans.
19 - bernese
As a wife and mother I can understand why Mrs. Alito got upset.She knows her husband better than anyone and knows he is not a bigot. She knew there would be tough questions but when Kenndy accused her husband of being a bigot over and over again it was more than she could take. I think its funny that the Dems let Kenndy be there spokes person for rights of women and moral issues. I seem to remember a young girl he left in a lake because he was drunk and drove off a bridge. That is real pro womens rights were was her justice he never spent one day in jail for that. Ted Kenndy has no creditablity when it comes to morals or womens rights. If his last name was not Kenndy then he would have went to jail. He left Mary Jo in the lake while he ran off to plan his excuse. Sam Alito has more honesty and intergity in his little finger than Kenndy has in whole big fat body.
20 - Scott
"So, this doesn't qualify as the kind "personal attack" prohibited in the comments?"
Your mama
21 - bernese
Well lets see there was no prove of what Kenndy said about Alito being a bigot ever found. It is however very much public about what Teddy did to that poor girl. It't not a personal attack it is the cold hard truth. Why do think Kenndy never became president. No one not even liberals wanted a man like Ted Kenndy running our country.
22 - allendrury
The fact is that this crying jag was planned. The Dems had the top evening news story with Alito under fire for his lapse of judgement over the sexist, anti-gay etc. organization he belonged to, but had no memory of. But did you notice what led the evening news after the Tammy-Faye moment?
23 - Andy Marsh
and you know it was planned...how???
24 - allendrury
Having worked in politics and broadcast journalism for 25 years I know hi-jinks when I see it. I have helped create some too. And be happy, your GOP friends won that round.
25 - Andy Marsh
My GOP friends??? You assume a lot for an elitist ass!
You think because I question your BULLSHIT that makes me a republican?
I'd almost bet your eyes are brown...'cause you're full of shit up to your eyebrows!