Damning Alabamans - August 28, 2003
Times Watch for August 28, 2003
Damning Alabamans
Thursdays editorial, Chief Justice Roy Moores Last Stand, piles on the
Alabama chief justice, even after his controversial Ten Commandments monument
was rolled out of the state Supreme Court building by a moving crew from Georgia
(no Alabama firm would take the job).
The Times compares Moore
once again to
segregationist Gov. George Wallace: Chief Justice Moore's claim that federal
law did not apply to him was a bad imitation of Gov. George Wallace's infamous
stand against integration at the University of Alabama in 1963. But this time
Alabama's legal establishment came down decisively on the side of the
Constitution and the rule of law.
The Times mentions another
Alabama legal figure that came down on the right side: William Pryor Jr.,
also argued for the monument's removal. Some of Chief Justice Moore's supporters
charge that Mr. Pryor, who had been a strong defender of the monument, switched
sides to curry favor with Senate Democrats in Washington, who have filibustered
his nomination to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, based
in Atlanta, the same court that ordered that the monument be removed. Mr. Pryor
says that he believes the monument is legal, but that the 11th Circuit's order
must be obeyed.
The Times editorial page
has
viciously opposed the nomination of Pryor to the federal Court of Appeals,
citing his extremist beliefs. Now that Pryor has enforced a ruling with which
he personally disagrees (taking the air out of such liberal arguments), the
Times uses Judge Moores conservative supporters to suggest Pryor cynically
switched sides and only enforced the law to curry favor with Democrats. One
wonders what Pryor could do to please the Times, short of withdrawing his
nomination.
For the rest of the Times editorial on Judge Roy
Moore and Attorney General William Pryor,
click here.
Alabama
|
Editorial
|
Judge Roy Moore
|
William Pryor
|
Racism
|
Religion
|
Ten Commandments
|
Gov. George Wallace
School
Prayer = Conservative: Gay Rights = Moderate
Charlie LeDuffs Thursday piece on the California
recall election, headlined Schwarzenegger Is Pressed for His Views on Social
Issues, describes how the actor-candidate handled tough questioning from
conservative talk radio hosts Sean Hannity and Larry Elder. Some of Mr.
Schwarzenegger's responses to the questioning today, like his support for prayer
in school, denying illegal aliens driving privileges and his opposition to gay
marriage, are sure to solidify his standing in conservative circles. Many social
conservatives in California have expressed misgivings about Mr. Schwarzenegger's
more moderate views, particularly on abortion and gay rights. LeDuffs labeling
begs the question: If favoring gay rights and abortion are examples of
moderate views, then what are liberal ones?
Schwarzeneggers
conservative positions (favoring school prayer, opposing gay marriage) are
actually well within the political mainstream, even in California.
A
1999 Gallup poll showed spoken school prayer favored by a 70%-28% margin
nationwide. In 2000, California voters themselves passed
Proposition 22, banning recognition of gay marriages, by a 61%-39% margin.
For the rest of Charlie LeDuffs piece on
Schwarzeneggers stand on social issues,
click here.
California
|
Charlie LeDuff
|
Labeling Bias
|
Recall Vote
|
Arnold
Schwarzenegger
