Kagan Is Political: Don't Expect Anything More

Jillian Bandes | June 29, 2010 9:06 AM

The them of the Kagan hearings today is going to be the nominee's judicial experience. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) says that she has had less experience than anyone nominated to the Court in 50 years, because she has played politics instead of practiced law. Those politics are going to be center stage as Kagan sits through the biggest show-hearing of her life.

Given that she's played politics so much, it'll be highly unlikely that she'll give any meaningful answers to questions asked by Senators this week. This is highly ironic, given the criticism she's had of past SCOTUS hearings. Take a look one quote from her during the Bork hearings, which she gave in reaction to the proceedings:

When the Senate ceases to engage nominees in meaningful discussion of legal issues, the confirmation process takes on an air of vacuity and farce, and the Senate becomes incapable of either properly evaluating nominees or appropriately educating the public.

We can only hope that Kagan will take a page from her own playbook, put politics aside, and give substantive answers to any of her questioners.