Definition of Cronyism

Press Hammers McClellan over Bush's Nomination of Miers

by Andy Ostroy - The Ostroy Report
Monday, October 03, 2005

At today's White House daily press briefing, Scott McClellan faced tough questions from the media about President Bush's nomination of Harriet "Clean Slate" Miers as the new Supreme Court justice to replace the retiring Sandra Day O'Connor. ABC's Terry Moran asked McClellan if Bush appointing his personal lawyer, someone with no experience on the bench, is "not the definition of cronyism, what is?" McClellan defended Bush's selection, saying Miers is a highly qualified individual and cited her impressive list of credentials (that's sarcasm here, folks) which include two terms on the Dallas City Council, a stint on the Texas Lottery Commission, her law career, and years as both Bush's personal lawyer and White House Counsel. By these and similar standards, NYC's Council President Gifford Miller deserves a crack at the black robe.

As Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said today, we know less about Miers than we did John Roberts Jr. And that's quite troubling. She is a veritable blank slate. A Bush crony with no discernible opinions and positions on critical issues like abortion, church and state, school prayer, etc. What we do know about her is that she vehemently fought to defeat a 1992 American Bar Association resolution supporting 1973's landmark Roe v Wade decision. At issue was not whether she herself supported the ruling, but whether or not the ABA should take a position. However, where there's smoke, there's usually fire.

Perhaps as time passes we'll keep learning more and more about Miers and how she may serve the court. Until then, on the surface, her nomination just seems like more blatant cronyism, with Bush rewarding mediocrity with the most powerful positions in the nation.

posted by The Ostroy Report