PressEthic

Hurricane Katrina gave up its extended reign over the headlines on Wednesday, September 14, 2005, as The New York Times ran a headline story about Judge John G.Robert Jr.’s confirmation hearings.

So far so good as The New York Times states, ‘His face never scowled. His level tone seldom varied. He answered questions he found useful to his cause and avoided those he did not’.

John Tierney’s column in The New York Times published on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 had some suggestions about how to penetrate Judge John G. Robert Jr.’s composed demeanor. He suggests, ‘The only hope for Democrats is to try the tactics used by interrogation pros like Israeli airports screeners and the US customs agents.’

For example The New York Times claimed “He artfully sidestepped the contentious question that has dogged him as a Supreme Court nominee, whether he opposes Roe v. Wade , the 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion.’ John Tierney’s suggestion about how the same question can be put to the nominee is ‘ If Roe v. Wade were a tree, what kind of a tree would it be?’

No, you didn’t miss anything, that IS his proposed question. I know! Shocking isn’t it, that somebody actually bothered to write a humorous column about this issue, or any issue for that matter. Thank God! I thought the press had completely lost its sense of humor. I am not going to delve into the writer's political associations for now, just simply enjoy his proposed questions on their own merit. He has a lot of suggestions for the Democrats and even though most of them are a little out there, some of them do have political implications buried underneath their humor.

Not the one about ‘Ashley or Mary Kate?’ though. That’s just plain funny!