Everyone (including my beloved Goldblog) seems to be getting some good laughs from Elena Kagan's Chinese-food-on-Christmas comment during yesterday's segment of her confirmation hearings for a Supreme Court justiceship. But honestly, I was much more moved--and impressed--by her comments about Israel earlier in the day.
Responding to questions from Senator Grassley about her admiration for former Israeli Supreme Court Justice Aharon Barak, Kagan referred to Israel as "a nation threatened from its very beginning," a nation that, despite all the challenges it faced from the start, had managed to establish a government featuring respect for the rule of law and an independent judiciary.
It's no secret, Kagan continued, that "I am Jewish. The State of Israel has meant a lot to me and my family, and I admire Justice Barak for what he has done for the State of Israel...."
It's so simple, in a way: "I am Jewish. The State of Israel has meant a lot to me...."
I wish that these statements were getting as much good-natured attention as the Chinese food comment. But I guess I should be glad that at least, Kagan's evident affection for Israel isn't being used against her (yet).
(You can watch and listen to Kagan offer these comments in this video--tune in around the 27-minute mark.)
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2 comments:
Thank you for posting this--I sent the link on to a couple of people.
Lisa Silverman
Thanks so much, Lisa.
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