Does this really play the way they think it does?

Kamala Harris's campaign managers are said to be looking forward to her grilling the President's nominee for the Supreme Court, based on her riveting question in 2019 to a candidate (later confirmed) for the U.S. District Court for Nebraska:
“Since 1993, you have been a member of the Knights of Columbus, an all-male society comprised primarily of Catholic men,” Harris began. “In 2016, Carl Anderson, leader of the Knights of Columbus, described abortion as ‘a legal regime that has resulted in more than 40 million deaths.’ Mr. Anderson went on to say that ‘abortion is the killing of the innocent on a massive scale.’ Were you aware that the Knights of Columbus opposed a woman’s right to choose when you joined the organization?”
Way to score points. He belonged to an all-male group composed solely of Catholics! Also an all-Catholic group composed solely of men.

If I'd been Ms. Harris's campaign adviser, I'd have suggested that she be less specific about the terrible things the Knights of Columbus believe, maybe sticking with "fringe religious fanatical notions you crazy racists all agree on." Reading out phrases like "abortion is the killing of the innocent on a massive scale" can only cause people, however unconsciously, to entertain thoughts about the moral gravity of this controversy.

"Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of a group that opposes the killing of the innocent on a massive scale?"
on

3 comments:

  1. MikeD11:31 AM

    Frankly, I'd support impeaching any Senator who attempts to put a religious test on appointing of Supreme Court Justices, because that's actually illegal (as well as unconstitutional). And yes, I understand that would go for Muslims and atheists too. So what?

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  2. Christopher B1:30 PM

    Her biggest liability is going to be having to take time off from campaigning, and not being able to play hide the ball with statements that are in the public record. Does she want to upset the normals with aggressive questions, or make the base upset by seeming to pull her punches?

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  3. E Hines3:47 PM

    Were you aware that the Knights of Columbus opposed a woman’s right to choose when you joined the organization?

    My response (some of you may recall my tendency toward the impolitic) would have been along the lines of, "No, I was not aware of that, nor am I aware of that today. I was, and am, aware that the Knights of Columbus opposes abortion and ardently supports the rights of babies to their lives."

    I'll also be curious to hear Feinstein's assessment of the continued strength of the dogma in Barrett, if she becomes the nominee.

    Eric Hines

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