12 Oct 2005 Laura Bush Fights the Last War for Women; the Wrong War for Harriet Miers

In response to Laura Bush’s remarks about Harriet Miers today:

I know Harriet well, I know how accomplished she is, I know how many times she’s broken the glass ceiling herself. She is a role model for young women around our country.

That’s fine as far as it goes, but “role model” is not the job description of a Supreme Court justice. To the extent that Harriet Miers is a role model because of past barriers broken, she is one regardless of whether she ever sits on the high court.

I personally believe, female-role-model-wise, Mrs. Bush is fighting the last war. American women have broken the glass ceilings. What we can’t figure out is how to still have time to raise our kids properly with all that broken glass at our feet.

Based on her biography, I don’t think Ms. Miers has an answer to that one, but even if she did, it would not — by itself — make her Supreme Court material.

Extremely popular, yes. Supreme Court material, no.

Here’s an idea, Mrs. Bush: Rather than tell us Harriet Miers is someone young women can look up to, tell us what Harriet Miers thought of John Roberts’s dissent in the Rancho Viejo “hapless toad” case.

When the Senate confirmation hearings begin, Senators won’t ask serious questions about glass ceilings, but they will ask about the hapless toad.

I sure hope the Bushes know her answer.