Senate Republicans took conservative fire last month for initially accepting the nomination of Bruce Lindsey's attorney, Allen Snyder, to a federal appeals court. That criticism stalled Snyder's judgeship. But an even loopier White House nomination remains alive. Bonnie Campbell is up for an appellate appointment. She shouldn't get it.
Campbell was prominent in Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign. In 1994 she ran for governor of Iowa. And she created quite a stir while she was at it, with assaults on Christian conservatives like this one: "I hate to call them Christian because I am Christian, and I hate to call them religious, because they're not, so I'll call them the radical right. You know who I'm talking about. These are the people that get their orders from God. . . . "
Campbell was likewise critical of "anti-tax groups" and other "extremists." And she also forgot to pay Social Security taxes on her housekeeper. No surprise, then, that Iowans overwhelmingly rejected Campbell's gubernatorial candidacy. She's nasty piece of work.
In an election year, the Senate historically places controversial judicial nominations on hold. Critical lifetime posts should be filled by a newly elected president, the theory goes, not by a lame duck. It's an excellent theory, and it should be rigorously applied in Campbell's case. The federal bench deserves better. Memo to Orrin Hatch and the Senate Judiciary Committee: Stall this nomination to death.