Just a month ago, I critiqued the Capital Times’ flawed reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Cap Times does it again with today’s column by editor emeritus Dave Zweifel on former Justice Louis Butler’s nomination to the U.S. District Court.
In his column, Zweifel decries the “savagery” and “attacks” directed at Justice Butler, the “confirmation hell” that he has been forced to endure, the “misinformation and slimy attacks” he’s been subjected to during the confirmation process.
This argument has two flaws. First, it is wrong on the facts. This confirmation process has not been hellish, slimy, or savage, and the information has been accurate and on target. Objections raised by conservatives inside and outside the US Senate have focused entirely on Justice Butler’s public record, especially from his tenure on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. They have not been nasty or savage – they have been a specific critique of his public record and decisions.
Second, throughout the column decrying these allegedly nasty attacks he levels various epithets at conservatives: “far out,” “right-wing,” “made a fortune publishing the books of right-wingers,” “small-minded.”
Zweifel ends his column by saying, “It’s time the Senate Democrats call these people out.” Incidentally, this is the second time I’ve had to call Zweifel out for failing to practice the same civility he advocates.
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