Hullabaloo

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

 
Not Just Ignorant But Destructive

by dday

It's not just that Sarah Palin can't name another Supreme Court case besides Roe v. Wade - wait, OK, it is that. But there's something more here, something that will offend the intelligence of more than merely all rational Americans. She believes in the Constitutional right to privacy.

Couric Why, in your view, is Roe v. Wade a bad decision?

Sarah Palin: I think it should be a states' issue not a federal government-mandated, mandating yes or no on such an important issue. I'm, in that sense, a federalist, where I believe that states should have more say in the laws of their lands and individual areas. Now, foundationally, also, though, it's no secret that I'm pro-life that I believe in a culture of life is very important for this country. Personally that's what I would like to see, um, further embraced by America.

Couric: Do you think there's an inherent right to privacy in the Constitution?

Palin: I do. Yeah, I do.

Couric: The cornerstone of Roe v. Wade.

Palin: I do. And I believe that individual states can best handle what the people within the different constituencies in the 50 states would like to see their will ushered in an issue like that.

I don't know if she believes in the right to privacy or if she believes in the words "right" and "privacy" and saw them together and took a stab at it. But this is a major, MAJOR no-no for the fundies and the wingnuts. She undermined the entire intellectual argument against Roe without even recognizing it. Taking her logic (if it can be called that), if there's a Constitutional right to privacy then there's a right to keep medical decisions confidential, not a state's right but a fundamental Constitutional right.

This is about 35 years' worth of arguments crashing down right now. If any backlash could cost her the nomination it would be over this. This reaches into Harriet Miers territory.

On a couple other notes:

1) Given that Palin is now personally responsible for saving Katie Couric's job, is there any kickback scheme in the offing?

2) Given that the gobbledy-gook answers that randomly generate at InterviewPalin.com are actually starting to be less surreal than what comes out of her mouth, have we reached a subject that is invulnerable to parody?

3) Do we really know whether or not Sarah Palin is Sacha Baron Cohen's greatest role?

...Incidentally, tomorrow night I'll be on the Mike Malloy show right after the debate with Brad from Bradblog and Marcy "emptywheel" Wheeler and others discussing the VP debate. Tune in from 10:30pm-midnight for an antidote to the spin room.

Check your local listings.


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dday 10/01/2008 05:45:00 PM |