Love your enemy

President Bush is close to making his first nomination to the Supreme Court, and Washington was abuzz with speculation Tuesday about Judge Edith Clement of the U.S. Court of Appeals in New Orleans…. Known as a conservative and a strict constructionist in legal circles, Clement has eased fears among some abortion-rights advocates. She has stated that the Supreme Court “has clearly held that the right to privacy guaranteed by the Constitution includes the right to have an abortion” and that “the law is settled in that regard.”

Still, Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said that Clement’s record raises “seriously troubling” questions about her commitment to protecting personal freedom. “Unless she was able to put those concerns to rest in Senate hearings, pro-choice Americans would oppose her nomination,” Keenan said.

Her statements also are causing concern in anti-abortion circles. “We are looking to see in what context Judge Clement made those statements and do they give a window into her thinking on Roe and other decisions,” said Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the conservative Christian Defense Coalition.

I don’t know how well the Love Your Enemy command translates into politics. At least, not in the give-in-to-them-everytime-they-cry manner apparently preferred by the President.

Wasn’t a pro-life Supreme Court judge the one solid reason for conservatives to vote for the President this last go round? Anyway, this may simply be a smokescreen, so there’s not much point getting all hissy about it yet.