Friend of Supreme Court Nom Says Kagan's Not Gay

AP/Alex Brandon

A close friend of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan has come forward to dispel rumors that Obama's pick to replace John Paul Stevens is a lesbian. In an interview with Politico, Sarah Walzer, Kagan’s roommate in law school and a close friend since then, says:

I’ve known her for most of her adult life and I know she’s straight. She dated men when we were in law school, we talked about men — who in our class was cute, who she would like to date, all of those things. She definitely dated when she was in D.C. after law school, when she was in Chicago - and she just didn’t find the right person... It’s an ongoing challenge for very smart women - there are not very many men who would choose women who are smarter than they are.

Walzer says that Kagan's friends have long been reluctant to dispel rumors about her sexual orientation out of fear of being perceived as prejudiced against gays. The rumors radically intensified once Kagan made Obama's short list of nominees, and were amplified by the fact that Kagan is unmarried, apparently single, and possesses personal attributes which some associate with lesbians (i.e. short hair and softball participation). "There is this assumption that people make at a single point about women who get to their 40s or 50s and never marry that it must be because they’re gay," Walzer says. "It’s just usually that they don’t get nominated for the Supreme Court and have everybody talking about them, so nobody really cares."

Meanwhile, Republicans are busy trying to dig up dirt, and are taking a time machine back to the Clinton administration, where Kagan served as domestic policy adviser. Documents will be requested from the Clinton library in Arkansas, which Republicans hope will shed "light" on Kagan's opaque political views. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the conservative top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, tells the Post, "It is a confirmation, it's not a coronation." And Utah Republican Senator Orrin Hatch—who voted to approve Kagan as Obama's Solicitor General—says Kagan's decision to oppose military recruitment by the ROTC when she was dean of Harvard Law School because of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is a "very serious problem."

Below, Jon Stewart's funny segment on the looming confirmation scuffle, entitled "Release the Kagan":

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Release the Kagan

www.thedailyshow.com

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By John Del Signore in News on May 12, 2010 11:23 AM

Comments [rss]

elpee

So if a lady likes chicks she's unfit to serve on the Supreme Court? Hoo boy...people aren't really this stupid are they?

recharger

Actually, what Hitchens said (re: good female comedians)

"Most of them, though, when you come to review the situation, are hefty or dykey or Jewish, or some combo of the three."

recharger

Christopher Hitchens said the only funny female comedians are either fat, Jewish or gay. Kagan must be really really funny.

neutral observer

who cares if she is gay or not, the question taht needs to be asked is: are Kagan and Janet Nepolitano long lost twin brothers separated at birth?

S.K.

And Janet Reno is their aunt? Seriously, can we get an intelligent, attractive, female in government for a change? Why aren't there enough beauties in government?

Potty Boy

hmm...dunno...she's been trying to date Allegra Cole...

drewo

How do people feel about the most recent Supreme Court decision? How about the decision before that?

No, most folks would not know. When it comes to the actual work the Supreme Court does, the media buries those stories, if they report them at all. Even though these decisions affect us all.

Like last year's ruling on eminent domain:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelo_v._New_London

But in our age of the Cult of Personality, the media goes bananas when a nominee is announced. What's her orientation? What god does she worship- if any? What do her childhood friends say about her?

But after they are appointed, the lazy media is onto the next Cult of Personality story. The Supreme Court decisions are just too complex for the media - or they are just incapable of explaining the decisions to the public.

As is often the case, the media miss the real story.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Which is why I asked about AETA. I would like to know her stance before she is confirmed.

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

that case was important.

refreshing my memory about it I found this

“New York is one of only seven states nationwide whose legislature has utterly failed to pass any kind of eminent domain reform in the wake of Kelo,” explained Institute for Justice Staff Attorney Robert McNamara."

http://www.ij.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2881&Itemid=165

also notable that it was the conservatives on the court that were against emminent domain for individual rights.

GoldenRuler

sensationalism breeds ignorance, hate and stupidity - and keeps people just informed enough to not feel the need to inform themselves further. it's the American way!

why isn't anyone asking if John Paul Stevens likes it doggy-style? does Samuel Alito prefer to be on top? so much importance in such a small aspect of one's life.

youngpro

...because it usually helps knowing someone's stance on issues BEFORE they sit on the bench. knowing the most recent case before the scotus is totally irrelevent.

drewo

And when they do sit on the bench and make a ruling, why aren't those rulings given the same front page treatment as the nomination?

Golden Ruler (below) hits it on the head. Keep the people just stupid enough to think they know what's going on.

youngpro

so take up your argument with the press, and not the readers. who's to say people don't or haven't yet read up on recent scotus rulings, justices' ruling histories, etc.

drewo

Yes, my post was directed at the Mass Media. And no, I don't think most folks know about Supreme Court rulings nearly as much as they know the judge's sexual orientation, religious beliefs, childhood play chums...

I'd like to see the Mass Media spend as much time covering actual court rulings, as they do the nomination process. It would be good for our country. But it would require some real reporting from the media - more than just Cult of Personality fluff.

JenChungsBaby

Next they're going to tell us that she doesn't own a dog either.

Mordicai

It is good to know the Republicans are finally willing to get rid of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I mean, I assume so, since they keep asking & asking & asking.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

who cares about her orientation? that is the least of my concern. what is her stance on AETA?

youngpro

Felix, either stop using my image to your likeless or I will issue a cease and desist to Gothamist to do it for you.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

WTH are you talking about? This is me! you used a fake profile as you stated last night. BTW, this youngho was sending me emails all night to hook up and I told her to spread her disease elsewhere. :D

youngpro

Felix, I'm asking you again to immediately cease and desist from using my image in your likeness. Using a similar profile is not the same as using someone else's picture as your own, as your 'profile' on Gothamist is not copyrighted material. This will be my last request to you before advising Gothamist for a copyright violation.