Where Left Is Right / The Old Site

Like any good liberal, I wish diversity were more of a cultural value -- especially in places of power, such as the Supreme Court. But there's diversity and there's "diversity." For a good illustration of the latter, consider the potential nomination of Alberto Gonzales to fill O'Connor's vacant seat. Here's what Orrin Hatch has to say on the subject:

"Let me not get into any nominee, but Gonzales is an excellent human being," Mr. Hatch said. "He's done an exceptional job as White House counsel. He's brought additional stability and peace to the Justice Department. I know the president is interested in trying to find people of diversity - he's really bent over to do that as president."

"An excellent human being." Forgive me if I withhold applause; whether or not that dubious adjective can be said to apply to a human being who has rationalized the use of torture, it's not sufficient grounds to begin to nominate someone to the High Court.

So, then, let's take a look at the diversity claim. From a few grafs earlier in the same article:

Members of Congress and conservatives close to the White House said that they were confident that Mr. Bush would use the first Supreme Court vacancy of his tenure to nominate a judge in the mold of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, as he has repeatedly promised to do.

Memo to Bush and, for that matter to all the "members of Congress and conservatives" clamoring for what passes as his attention: Diversity is not something to be claimed for an institution on the basis of race or country of origin. Diversity arises from an institution which represents multiple points of view. If W, God help us, had the opportunity to appoint an Hispanic, an Oriental, a black, a Muslim, a Jew, a woman, an Italian, a Slav, and a mongrel to fill the entire court, diversity would not be achieved if they all thought the same way about issues coming before them. Diversity would not be achieved, and democracy would not be served.

Typical right-wing weasel tactic: adopting the language of liberal values -- while simultaneously telling backroom jokes about "political correctness" -- in the service of conformity.