Attacking the Nominee for Dressing His Children Appropriately

Hat tip: Peter Sean Bradley at Lex Communis

I've known since I was a kid (circa early-1970s) that the Washington Post had it in for conservatives and Republicans, but I'm nevertheless shocked that the Post would stoop to publishing this:

An Image A Little Too Carefully Coordinated

By Robin Givhan
Friday, July 22, 2005; Page C02

It has been a long time since so much syrupy nostalgia has been in evidence at the White House. But Tuesday night, when President Bush announced his choice for the next associate justice of the Supreme Court, it was hard not to marvel at the 1950s-style tableau vivant that was John Roberts and his family.

There they were -- John, Jane, Josie and Jack -- standing with the president and before the entire country. The nominee was in a sober suit with the expected white shirt and red tie. His wife and children stood before the cameras, groomed and glossy in pastel hues -- like a trio of Easter eggs, a handful of Jelly Bellies, three little Necco wafers. There was tow-headed Jack -- having freed himself from the controlling grip of his mother -- enjoying a moment in the spotlight dressed in a seersucker suit with short pants and saddle shoes. His sister, Josie, was half-hidden behind her mother's skirt. Her blond pageboy glistened. And she was wearing a yellow dress with a crisp white collar, lace-trimmed anklets and black patent-leather Mary Janes.

***
Separate the child from the clothes, which do not acknowledge trends, popular culture or the passing of time. They are not classic; they are old-fashioned. These clothes are Old World, old money and a cut above the light-up/shoe-buying hoi polloi.

***
But the Roberts family went too far. In announcing John Roberts as his Supreme Court nominee, the president inextricably linked the individual -- and his family -- to the sweep of tradition. In their attire, there was nothing too informal; there was nothing immodest. There was only the feeling that, in the desire to be appropriate and respectful of history, the children had been costumed in it.

(emphasis added)

My Comments:
Pathetic. Is this what passes for "journalism" fit to be published in the Washington Post?

The Roberts family "went too far"? (Or, maybe "too white"?) I guess stylish, classic clothing are anathema to the midriff baring, flip-flop wearing, pierced nipple/nose/eyebrow set. I just wasn't aware that the Washington Post had a policy of hiring such people as opinion writers.

Back to how the Roberts kids were attired: this is exactly how I would have dressed my boys if my family had been going to meet the President at the White House and have him introduce me as his nominee for Justice of the Supreme Court. I guess that "excess" in dressing my children appropriately for the occasion would disqualify me from serving on the Court.

Well, that and the fact that my law school grades at the University of Virginia hewed pretty closely to the school's famous "B-Mean".