A tale of two Warrens
Senator Dick Dubin's maliciously false report of a private conversation with John Roberts was one of the first strategems adopted by liberals seeking to undermine Judge Roberts's nomination to the Supreme Court. Durbin's report was anonymously sourced by columnist Jonathan Turley, who disclosed Durbin's identity as the source when Durbin falsely denied responsibility for the account of his meeting with Judge Roberts.
Today's Washington Post carries an anonymously sourced account of Senator Leahy's meeting with Harriet Miers yesterday:
In an initial chat with Miers, according to several people with knowledge of the exchange, Leahy asked her to name her favorite Supreme Court justices. Miers responded with "Warren" — which led Leahy to ask her whether she meant former Chief Justice Earl Warren, a liberal icon, or former Chief Justice Warren Burger, a conservative who voted for Roe v. Wade. Miers said she meant Warren Burger, the sources said.If this exchange accurately reflects the conversation between Senator Leahy and Ms. Meiers, it reflects poorly on her. Northwestern University Law School Professor Jim Lindgren considers the interpretive possibilties here. I trust that the meaning of this conversation will be pursued in the Judiciary Committee hearing on Ms. Miers's nomination. Given the Durbin scenario that kicked off the Roberts confirmation process, I think it would be prudent to keep an open mind regarding the veracity of the report for the time being. (Thanks to Instapundit.)
UPDATE: Please see "The K-Lo clarification."
