Elena Kagan White House "Interview" Riles Reporters

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Supreme Court ,; White House

The White House today posted on its website a video allowing Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan to speak "in her own words" about her personal history and perspective.

In the interview, conducted by a White House staffer who produces videos for the administration, Kagan discusses her childhood, parents and professional career. At one point she jokes that people get confused between her job as solicitor general arguing cases before the Supreme Court and the surgeon general, who puts "the labels on the cigarette packages."

While the White House seems to believe the American people deserve to hear from Kagan, it has not made her available to reporters. That prompted some consternation at today's White House briefing.

"It appears that Solicitor General Kagan did an interview yesterday right after the president's announcement," said a reporter. "You've now posted that on the White House Web site. Who did the interview? And can I have one?"

"I think it's -- I think it's on the website if you want to see it," responded Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Soon after, the reporter can be heard saying, an edge in her voice, "So a White House staffer interviewing her."

Gibbs says yes, and the reporter asks if Kagan would like to do another interview.

"She has -- she's not told me that, no," replied Gibbs, prompting the reporter to respond, "Tell her we're deeply frustrated."

The decision to post an interview with Kagan conducted by a government employee - not a journalist - is in line with the Obama administration's policy of regularly using new media tools to go around traditional media.

Doing so allows the administration to better control its message - and, in this case, avoid any uncomfortable questions for their Supreme Court nominee.

Still, it's worth noting that it seems to be unprecedented for the nominee to be heard from at all before the confirmation hearings, other than in the initial introduction and in brief photo ops with senators.

"This White House has taken its use of the web to a new level with this move," said CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer. "The ultimate unfiltered message. Kagan 'in her own words' without anyone else's words."

More on Elena Kagan's nomination:

Elena Kagan Takes Center Stage in 2010 Campaign Battles
Kagan to Meet With Key Senators Wednesday
Washington Unplugged: Kagan Riles Both Sides of the Aisle
Jeff Sessions: Kagan Won't Shift Court on Abortion
Chip Reid: Why Kagan? In A Word: "Leadership"
Photos: Elena Kagan
CBSNews.com Special Report: Elena Kagan

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by ThinkingAllowed May 14, 2010 4:02 PM EDT: When will the rest of the county wake up? This out-of-touch and out-of-control administration must be stopped or derailed befor it is too late.

Where are the republicans? Why aren't they yelling from the roof tops? November can't come soon enough!

Can the past 18 months be undone?; Reply to this comment


by htMac May 14, 2010 1:04 PM EDT: "I want an intelligent and knowledgeable legal mind that can make fair and reasoned arguments based on the US Constitution and rule of law. Period."
What better background than a lifetime of higher education. Let me see, where do most of the bleeding heart liberals hang out? Oh yeah, in the portentous environs of higher education! Those that can do, those that cannot teach. Those that teach quite often wish to impose their views on the student body.; Reply to this comment

by apuan777 May 13, 2010 2:18 PM EDT

by ibsteve2u May 13, 2010 2:01 PM EDT
Every one of those questions is designed to ensure that Kagan meets the standards of the "right".

You people don't want democracy; you want a right-wing shadow dictatorship.
-------------------------------------------------

Let me get this straight. You want a Supreme Court Justice, with 0 hours of judicial experience behind the bench, with 0 rulings on any topic whatsoever, to be confirmed without the American public getting to at least hear a non-government entity ask the tough questions?

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by velma179 May 13, 2010 3:27 PM EDT: This American doesn't give a hoot about "judicial experience" and am greatly opposed to have ANY topic become the litmus test for a Supreme Court Justice -- especially any one of the "hot button" issues you seem to think matter more than the character of the person nominated.

I want an intelligent and knowledgeable legal mind that can make fair and reasoned arguments based on the US Constitution and rule of law. Period.

I definitely don't want any more ideological activists, such as the conservative bloc has proven themselves to be. And I mean this for either conservative or liberal bias.

by apuan777 May 13, 2010 1:13 PM EDT

Simple as this...if Kagan won't be asked or answer the following questions, she should not even be considered:

1. What is your stance on illegal immigration
2. What is your stance on abortion
3. What is your stance on states rights
4. What is your stance on the military
5. What is your stance on health care/insurance
6. What is your stance on financial reform

Answer the questions Kagan...Obama, let her answer the questions.

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by ibsteve2u May 13, 2010 1:51 PM EDT: NONE of those questions are relevant. NO judge - no good judge - should have a "stance"; their job and duty is to interpret and apply the laws written by politicians who are PAID to have "stances".

The Supreme Court ALREADY has a bunch of "conservative" ideologues who let their "stances" dictate their rulings; the American people deserve better.


by apuan777 May 13, 2010 1:55 PM EDT: I agree with you...i want to hear what she would say because those are the questions the media will ask.

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by drkdxn May 13, 2010 12:43 PM EDT

OOPS! I MUST BE IN NEVER NEVER LAND. OBVIOUSLY THESE COMMENTS MUST BE FROM A CONSERVATIVE, RADICAL, AGAINST THE US BECAUSE FROM WHAT I HAVE GATHERED FROM SOME OF THESE COMMENTS ARE THE MOST RIDICULOUS IDEAS I HAVE READ IN A WHILE. LIKE THE SAYING GOES, "AMERICA" LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT. GO LIVE IN PAKISTAN OR ANY OF THOSE COUNTRIES AND SEEN HOW FAR YOUR FREEDOMS WOULD LAST. YOU WOULD BE IN SOME PRISON SOMEWHERE BEGGING TO COME BACK TO AMERICA.

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by ky7474 May 13, 2010 1:11 PM EDT: So, you say accept corruption, greed, oppression, dicrimmination, incarceration of innocent non-violent citizens, and killings of the same, as long as we don't mirror places like Pakistan. Sorry, by accepting these valueless principals we create harsh divisions in our society and civil unrest. America's potential is much greater than that. By the way, many innocent people are in jail and prison because of a corrupt law here in the US. I wish people like yourself were more concerned about them.


by ky7474 May 13, 2010 12:42 PM EDT: I hope she doesn't support the crimminalization of non-violent American citizens who have been unjustly targeted for decades for the use of cannibis [a naturally grown, GOD provided plant that was a leading ingredient in many medications up until the corrupt prohibition in the 1930's]. This plant was used for many diverse applications [medicine, textiles, oils, clothing, etc.]. Many of our founding fathers delcared it to be the center of our nations economy. Then corporate america lobbied for the prohibition because the harmful products to the earth's enviroment such as plastics and other non bio-degradable products, profits would be compromised. Pharmaceutacal companies want complete control and use many dangerous synthetic substances that only they are allowed to produce. Get the picture. Millions of lives have been destroyed and many killed over this corrupt prohibition. Those who vote to destroy personal freedoms and make crimminals out those who are not crimminals are not fit for any court much less the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.; Reply to this comment


by drkdxn May 13, 2010 12:35 PM EDT: I AM SO TIRED OF THE MEDIA THINKING THEY ARE THE ONLY PERSONS WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO ASK QUETIONS OR BE GIVEN AN INTERVIEW. THEY THINK THEY ARE ABOVE IT ALL AND SHOW NO RESPECT TO THE PERSON THEY ARE INTERVIEWING. CASE IN POINT, BEFORE SAVANNAH GUTHRIE AND HER PARTNER, (can't think of his name right now) GOT THE TV SPOT ON MSNBC THEY WERE LIKABLE, PERSONABLE REPORTERS WHO I LIKED. BUT IT SEEMS (AND I'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE)AS SOON AS THEY GET A TV SHOW THEIR PERSONALITIES REVERT TO IDIOTS. THEY TALK OVER EACH OTHER AND DON'T RESPECT WHAT THE OTHER HAS TO SAY. I DON'T EVEN WATCH THEM I JUST TURN THE CHANNEL THEY ARE SO DISGUSTING. LISTEN UP MEDIA REPORTERS, IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND YOUR PROFESSION THAT ARE SO HUNGRY FOR A STORY, ESPECIALLY A SALICIOUS ONE, THAT KILLED PRINCESS DIANA. YOU'RE NO BETTER THAN THE PAPARRAZZI. GET SOME MANNERS.; Reply to this comment


by NowBeWithThat May 13, 2010 10:50 AM EDT: "The Senate ought to view the [confirmation] hearings as an opportunity to gain knowledge and promote public understanding of what the nominee believes the court should do and how she would affect its conduct."
________________________________

There it is. In her own words, the Kagan Standard to which she should be held, feet to the fire.

Bring it.; Reply to this comment


by EllenBLS May 13, 2010 10:06 AM EDT: The most important line of your report is, "Still, it's worth noting that it seems to be unprecedented for the nominee to be heard from AT ALL before the confirmation hearings, other than in the initial introduction and in brief photo ops with senators."
That should have been in the lead!!!!; Reply to this comment

by eagle20072 May 13, 2010 9:37 AM EDT

Kagan translates to Cainan in Hebrew which means the people that are decendents of Cain and the Devil! Matt Lauer did an interview with Joe Biden and Biden said"She works like the Devil"! Is this just another person that Obama has chosen to help him in his dasterly deeds? I think so....

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