A Chequer-Board of Nights and Days

Robert Bork attacks Harriet Miers. Senate Democrats defend her:

Some Senate Democrats are jumping in the middle of a Republican fray to defend Harriet Miers from conservative criticism that she isn't qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.

That doesn't mean Democrats will vote to approve President Bush's longtime confidante for the high court or give her an easy time at a Senate confirmation hearing.

Behind the scenes, a half-dozen aides to Senate Democrats speaking on condition of anonymity to protect their jobs admit that they are enjoying watching the GOP's right wing beat up the president. None will say whether their bosses feel the same way or might be insincere when they heap praise on Miers and call her critics unfair.

"All the trashing is coming from the right wing of the Republican Party," Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said in a conference call with reporters. "I really think it's despicable what they're doing."

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., accused critics of Miers' nomination of being "incredibly sexist."

"They're saying a woman who was one of the first to head up a major law firm with over 400 lawyers doesn't have intellectual heft," Mikulski said. "I find this a double standard."

I hope no one finds me sexist in saying that if Senator Mikulski means what she says, then she too lacks intellectual heft. No one is saying that Harriet Miers isn't smart. What we are saying is that she is not well-versed in Constitutional law. Edith Jones--to take a very appropriate example--would not be subject to these kinds of critiques because she is well-versed in Constitutional law. Indeed, the very people Senator Mikulski so foolishly derides as "sexist" would leap for joy of Judge Jones were nominated to the United States Supreme Court.

But of course, if she were, Senator Mikulski would lead the charge against Judge Jones's confirmation. Not that it would be "sexist" of her to do so, of course--Senator Mikulski and her supporters supposedly have street cred on that issue.