This morning, Sheryl Gay Stolberg of the New York Times reported that according to the Pew Center , only 18% of Americans are currently tuned in to the Roberts Supreme Court nomination. This is in contrast to 70 and 71 percent focusing on the Hurricane and gasoline, respectively. I am hardly surprised at this, and I don't at all think it is the fault of Katrina (or gasoline) keeping the general public from caring about the Senate proceedings commencing today.
At 11:30 EST this morning, Judge John Roberts will be brought to question before the Judiciary Committee regarding his nomination for the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. This is big; this will shape the direction of our country; this makes a difference. One of only three branches of our government will have a new leader. Yet, I am neither surprised nor disappointed that America is not paying attention. The press continues to cover the nomination for sure, but only minimally, considering its audience. Readers continue to skip that article.
Why isn't this more distressing? Shouldn't people care? If journalists are to keep government agencies in check, they surely have something interesting to report about the confirmation hearings. Why doesn't the American public want to hear it?
Here's the thing about politicians: most of them are lawyers. I'll give you a bit of info for free (this could cost you hundreds of dollars in tuition somewhere). This is what they teach you on the first day of law school: never ask a question you don't already know the answer to. This is what will happen this week. Senators will use the hearings as a stumping ground. They have planned every word. They will make a point. They will stand strong. They will make sure you know where they stand.
They will question Roberts on abortion, war, and civil rights. Most of the time, they already know his answer. My point is this: they aren't trying to make sure the American public knows how Roberts feels about the issues (he is required to be somewhat impartial) as much as they are trying to use the nomination as a pulpit for their own preaching. Their votes will not change based on what he has to say.
So is it news? Of course. We are choosing the 17th chief justice of the Supreme Court. We should pay attention. We should know how he feels about the constitution. We should watch.
Will I? Of course. But I'm a news junkie.
Will anyone else? Doubtful. And I don't blame them. Sometimes politicans try so hard to create a spectacle that they ruin genuine news.
Anonymous @ September 12, 2005 - 8:24pm
One aspect you didn't mention about the lack of interest in the John Roberts nomination is that, absent being caught in bed with either a dead girl or a live boy, he's a mortal lock to be confirmed as Supreme Court Justice. Bush, already reeling from the Iraq and the controversy surrounding Rove and the outing of Valerie Plame, chose the easy road by nominating Roberts. Everything about him, whether it's his name, his all-American looks, and his background, suggest a candidate without any skeletons in his closet.
People understand how important the hearings are. They're just not going to waste their energy when all signs point to an easy confirmation.
»