Kmiec's endorsement is another example of what I discussed
last week in relation to Andrew Bacevich's attempt to make
the conservative case for Obama (or at least the paleo one).
Obama's lofty rhetoric and ability to respectfully summarize the
arguments of his ideological opponents, combined with his thin
public record, allow people from all ideological stripes to see
what they want to in Obama, even if their perception is at odds
with reality.
After explaining his views on the judiciary and his support for
a Supreme Court that keeps "within its limited judicial role,"
Kmiec writes that he supports Obama because he is "convinced based
upon his public pronouncements and his personal writing that on
each of these questions he is not closed to understanding opposing
points of view, and as best as it is humanly possible, he will
respect and accommodate them." But the problem is, there is nothing
in Obama's actions to support Kmiec's
claim.
A perfect example is how Obama handled John Roberts's nomination
to the Court. In a
high-minded speech, Obama began by stating, "there is
absolutely no doubt in my mind Judge Roberts is qualified to sit on
the highest court in the land." He went on to praise Roberts
effusively, only to explain--in a roundabout way--that he was
voting against Roberts purely on ideological grounds. Or as Obama
put it, he rejected Roberts because he theorized that 5 percent of
cases, the really difficult ones, would be decided "on the basis of
one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader
perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of
one's empathy." And at the end of the day, Roberts didn't share his
liberal values. Either that, or Obama didn't have the guts to stand
up to liberals and justify a vote to confirm Roberts.
Kmiec argues that when it comes to radical Islam, "Senator Obama
needs to address this extremist movement with the same clarity and
honesty with which he has addressed the topic of race in America."
Of course, Obama's failure to do so after more than a year of
campaigning, has no bearing on Kmiec's decision to endorse him.
topics:
Islam, Supreme Court, NATO
