Nation: Roe = Dred

[Bossy Monkey]

by Katha Pollitt

Many viewers were puzzled when, toward the end of the second debate, George W. Bush answered a question about Supreme Court nominees by referring to the Dred Scott case. Why bring up the infamous 1857 decision, which declared that blacks could not be citizens and, in the notorious words of Chief Justice Roger Taney, had "no rights a white man is bound to respect," and which barred Congress from outlawing slavery in the territories? Perhaps, some wags quipped, Bush was trying to win black votes by coming out against slavery. Others suggested he was displaying his knowledge of Missouri history, or just being his usual garbled self--or maybe this was the only Supreme Court case he could think of. Here's the passage:

"Another example would be the Dred Scott case, which is where judges years ago said that the Constitution allowed slavery because of personal property rights. That's personal opinion. That's not what the Constitution says. The Constitution of the United States says we're all--you know, it doesn't say that. It doesn't speak to the equality of America. And so I would pick people that would be strict constructionists."

Bush's language may be confused, but those who follow the anti-choice movement know that he knew exactly what he was saying: He was talking about abortion. As the blogger Paperwight puts it at fairshot.typepad.com/fairshot/, "Here's what Bush actually said: 'If elected to another term, I promise that I will nominate Supreme Court Justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade.'" If you didn't realize that, it's because you weren't meant to. The President was speaking to his base, in code.

(more)
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml%3Fi=20041101&s=pollitt

Wow, a blog reference and everything! Yes I know everybody here knows this stuff, but it's good to see it in a relatively high visibility place like The Nation.