Burr Comes Out of the Closet in Debate

Tonight during the Erskine Bowles/Dick Burr senatorial debate in Raleigh, the following exchange happened:

Q: Mr. Burr, if elected to the Senate you'll likely get to vote on one or more U.S. Supreme Court nominees before your term is up. What will you look for in a Supreme Court justice?

BURR: I'll look for somebody that in fact holds to the Constitution, not somebody that looks at their own interpretation but what the interpretation was meant to be. If that's a litmus test, then I'm for it. But the reality is that we've got judges on the bench, from the highest court on down, that feel that it's their job to reinterpret what the law says. I believe that it's very clear that the words "under God" belong there. It troubles me that we've got the bench in some cases and potentially the Supreme Court, where we might have a debate, and because of the makeup of the court it might decide the future for our children, as to whether they say the words "under God." I believe that's worth protecting.

Revealing response, no?

1. "...what the interpretation was meant to be." You see, folks, there is only one way these things can be read, and that way was preordained. Luckily, a chosen few of us were let in on the secret. We just need judges who'll admit it.

2. "If that's a litmus test, then I'm for it." 'Cause it just makes my head ache otherwise.

3. "...judges ... that feel that it's their job to reinterpret what the law says." Actually, Dick, that IS what judges do, including those ideal candidates who make your litmus paper turn blue. Oh, wait! It's not interpretation, is it, when they do it? Just meek acceptance of divine will. My bad!

4. "...we might have a debate...." And that's what's been wrong with this democracy for some time now ... DEBATE!

5. "...the future for our children, as to whether they say the words 'under God.' " Since it's far, far more important what children learn to say, as opposed to what they learn to do.

Burr also said "I'm not embarrassed to vote with the president 96 percent of the time. He's right that often! I'm convinced."

Which got us to thinking about that four percent of the time that El Presidente has been wrong. 'Til it started making our head ache.

Erskine Bowles made our heart ache about as much as our head during this same debate. But we'll save his best lines until tomorrow, after we've stopped gritting our teeth.