In Defense of Ant-Elitism or Kind-of

I hear again and again that Hewitt-clones (the pro-Miers crowds) are calling Miers objectors elitist. While there has been some direct accusation of elitism (see Mehlman) I think the objectors miss the point. Jonah Goldberg, whose last word on Miers before the hearings was Thursday, broke his silence ("Mm'Doh!") today and points to Hewitt's "elitist" background. Note to Jonah and others: I don't think that the Pro-Miers crowd is calling YOU "elitist"... rather I think they are accusing you of playing the "elitist card".

See for example this excellent post by Beldar last week. After citing some profoundly "elitist" comments by any reasonable standard (i.e. that no President would ever have the prowess to pick the right kind of Jurist for SCOTUS) Beldar states:

I continue to respect Prof. Barnett. But I reject — I mock and I ridicule without apology — his notion that only "experts" or "advisers who do know about such matters" have the ability or the authority to decide who ought to be appointed to the courts. I submit that that notion is profoundly anti-democratic, profoundly insulting to the American public and the office of the POTUS (whoever holds it), and profoundly contrary to both the history and intent of our constitutional structure under the rule of law. As I commented on Prof. Barnett's post, if he really believes that, he's "not just off into the elitist deep end now, [he's] drowned in it."

In my mind, the accusation of "elitism" is not that the accuser attended Ivy schools and wants the same ilk on the court but that the Anti-Miers is using "elitist" standards as a bar to reach. There is a difference.

That's not to say that the argument is a great argument. Lowry rightly points out the hypocrisy of the Roberts/Miers talkings points and Kristol makes a case why intellectuals are not a bad thing to have on the court, but I really think that people are mis-reading the accusation on a whole.

You don't have to have an elitst background to play the "elitist card"

See the whole picture.