Love story: Mainstream media courts conservative pundits

By Doug Powers

The charge: Bush chose a Supreme Court nominee based, not on credentials and background, but rather someone who was a friend and longtime loyalist, in spite of there being several other more qualified candidates.

The Bush defense: Shut up. You'll see. She'll be great.

It's been the big news lately: Conservatives are turning on Bush like Rottweilers to an overturned hot dog cart, including George Will, Charles Krauthammer, Trent Lott, Pat Buchanan, Rush Limbaugh, and many others.

At the very least, this Miers flap has caused the mainstream media to offer an unprecedented amount of coverage to the opinions of conservative politicians and pundits. Have you ever noticed that the only time the mainstream media seem to report with great fervor the political opinions of Rush Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan and others is when those opinions are critical of President Bush?

For years and years, the voices and writings of these conservatives have shaped debate in this country, usually accompanied by, at best, a "tsk, tsk" in mainstream media reporting. But when these same conservatives are riled over a Bush choice, USA Today, the New York Times, and TV network news welcome their political opinions like an ice cream truck in Death Valley. Soon, for some of these conservatives, it'll be back to normal, when the only time their names end up in a mainstream media report is when they're accused of racism, sexism or some illegal activity.

Charges of "cronyism" are flying at the Bush White House. Charles Krauthammer sums it up: "If Harriet Miers were not a crony of the president of the United States, her nomination to the Supreme Court would be a joke, as it would have occurred to no one else to nominate her."

Yes, I suppose that it wouldn't have occurred to any other president to nominate Bush's White House counsel, just like it wouldn't occur to a football coach to start a quarterback who isn't on his team.

Bush could have simply appointed a committee of pundits and let them choose the most qualified person for every Supreme Court opening. Of course, this wouldn't work, since each pundit would choose somebody they know and trust, which could be a different person in each case – back to square one.

For all I know, there may be pundits and politicians, perhaps even one or more of those accusing Bush of cronyism, who wouldn't have their column in newspapers, show on the radio, or be in Congress but for some measure of cronyism.

Why would an editor pick somebody they're unfamiliar with, but for a few words on a page, when there may be one available who said editor knows can make a deadline and produce consistent, quality work? This would allow the other columnists who weren't chosen to accuse the editor-in-question of the same thing Bush is being accused of: "There's no way any other editor would have chosen that columnist over others who are more qualified."

Cronyism has existed for centuries. It's almost unavoidable. Think about it – if Bush had nominated somebody just to please his conservative "friends," would that not also be a form of cronyism?

Some conservatives, myself included, were hoping for a nomination that would have had Democrats' stomachs churning, leaving them feeling like they just chugged a gallon of Mexican well water. Conservatives wanted a good fight over a "real" conservative nomination to the Supreme Court with all the stuff we like – a proven pro-life record, respect for private property ... the works.

To some of us, a "qualified" candidate is anybody who gets Barbara Boxer's coat hanger in a twist or depresses an eminent-domainer into drinking his dinner. Then I thought, by only wanting to nominate somebody who would cause a fight, does that put us in the position to knock Bush for failing to look at qualifications?

Republican Party infighting aside, the best way to gauge Miers is not on conservative reaction, but by Democrat action, or lack of, in the confirmation process. If Dems sense Miers may swing to the left on some things, look for them to support her with more vigor than Republicans. If that happens, then we'll know we're in trouble.

Hopefully, in a few years, Limbaugh, Buchanan, Will, Lott, Krauthammer and the rest will consider Miers a rousing success on the Supreme Court. You'll know if those conservatives are happy again with Bush, because you'll be seeing, hearing, and reading absolutely nothing about it in the mainstream media.

Doug Powers


Doug Powers' column on the day-to-day issues faced by men around the world appears regularly in MensNewsDaily.com, and his column of political observations can be read every Monday at WorldNetDaily.com. Doug's work has appeared in The Washington Times and numerous other newspapers and magazines around the country. He can be reached via his website at www.dougpowers.com.