Harriet, Sweet Harriet

It’s Harriet Miers.

President Bush on Monday nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on the Supreme Court, reaching into his inner circle for a pick that could reshape the nation’s judiciary for years to come.

“She has devoted her life to the rule of law and the cause of justice,” Bush said, announcing his choice from the Oval Office with Miers at his side. “She will be an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court of the United States.”

If confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate, Miers, 60, would join Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the nation’s highest court and the third to serve there. Miers, who has never been a judge, was the first woman to serve as president of the Texas State Bar and the Dallas Bar Association.

I’m really not in any position to comment here, because I don’t know a thing about the woman. That being said, check out the BBC article on the nomination. They conveniently neglect to mention any of Miers’ qualifications for the post, but made sure to include this important information.

Ms Miers, 60, has been serving as President Bush’s top legal counsel since November 2004.

She also served on Mr Bush’s gubernatorial campaign in 1994 - and again during his presidential election of 2000.

That’s right, folks. Her legal abilities, her professional experience, apparently none of this is newsworthy. But pointing out the fact that she worked on Bush’s campaigns, well, that’s vastly important. See, they can’t defame the candidate directly, so they do it via the omission of her qualifications and by tying her to Bush.

Ah, the good old BBC, where bias is Job 1.