News flash: Bush opposes Dred Scott ?!

[trochee]

In the debates last night, Bush mentioned that he would appoint judges that would oppose Dred Scott.

Those of us who remember 10th grade American History were (1) surprised that W remembered that much from that period of his life and (2) mystified by his need to declare that he's against American slavery in the 21st century.

But bohemond has an explanation for this: "You heard: 'I would appoint judges opposing Dred Scott.' Conservative Christians heard: 'I would appoint justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade'". Go read it.

I'm pretty convinced. Is he missing a piece of this analysis or did he figure out the subtext correctly?

Comments

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

I think that is a correct analysis, and there is an even more explicit, insidious precedent-appropriating that could be going on here. Both cases deal with the issue of "personhood" and the Great New Laci and Connor Bill that Bush signed into law (and was bragging about) is a backdoor assault on abortion, because it sets a precedent of granting legal personhood to a fetus. This is, of course, dangerous, as the original Supreme Court decision was written around viability, which is becoming more and more murky with the new technology, but anyway, fetus=legal status under law. Before this fetus was not afforded equal protection under law, JUST LIKE A SLAVE was not afforded equal protection under law. In the cuurent kulturkampf, and with the Keyes-Obama debacle, the two are pretty perversely and explicitly linked.

[chr0me-kitten.livejournal.com]

I think he's on to something. I've heard that argument before from conservative folks.

[solri.livejournal.com]

The technique was first used by prohibitionists (many of whom were former abolitionists) - alcohol=slavery.

[isolt.livejournal.com]

Interesting, and probably correct.

From the pro-choice side of things, though, forced pregnancy could easily also be viewed as slavery...

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

that's a very good point.

[my-left-ear.livejournal.com]

Oh! that was sort of what I got from it, but I hadn't quite thought it out. At the time, this is what I understood bushie to be saying:

I will not select a judge who uses his opinions (i.e.--biases that are different than mine) to interpret the constitution. the DS case is an example of where someone did this. (in other words, I'm going to use an extreme example from history that everyone knows and no one can possibly disagree with--I mean, no one will say that they are for slavery or dehumanization). This won't happen again under my guard. (of course it won't you ninny, unless you count free-trade induced wage slavery!)

My most immediate response was to be offended that he would co-opt the experience of slavery in order to make himself sound righteous. I also just assumed that he was full of shit and that he was trying to convince the audience that there is actually such a thing as an un-opinionated interpretation of anything. He was using the DS case to say "see, this is an example where personal beliefs affected judgement, and I will make sure that doesn't happen." Please, how can he stand there with a straight face and say that he's all for not mixing beliefs with politics? 5 strikes and a slap across the face!

The whole abortion/slavery connection adds an entirely other dimension, proving my theory that bushie is in fact an agent of satan. (sorry satan, no offense).

[solri.livejournal.com]

You're assuming that Bush is using metonymy to mean that he would appoint judges that would oppose the Supreme Court's verdict in the Dred Scott case. He could have meant that he would appoint judges that would oppose Dred Scott, were he to appear before them.

Alternatively, it is conceivable that Bush thinks Dred Scott is the full name of Judge Dredd ;-)

[trochee.livejournal.com]

the full name of Judge Dredd

Hee hee -- Judge Dredd and the Shrub seem to have similar ideas about criminal justice.

[solri.livejournal.com]

Similar ideas on politics too: "Democracy is too important to be left up to the people."

[lapsedmodernist.livejournal.com]

apparently this is also directly explained in What's The Matter With Kansas.

I wrote you a reply, but from a different email address, so hopefully you don't have some superspamfilter.

[trochee.livejournal.com]

I got it.

pretending to work again ;) so I won't be able to respond right away.

besides, if I got spam like your email every day, spam wouldn't be a problem!