How Bush chose Roberts... Update

Nope, never, not gonna say:

Federalist Affiliation Misstated
Roberts Does Not Belong to Group

By Charles Lane
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2005; Page A16

Everyone knows that, like all good Republican lawyers, John G. Roberts Jr. is a member of the Federalist Society, the conservative law and public policy organization where right-of-center types meet to denounce liberalism and angle for jobs in the Bush administration.

And practically everyone -- CNN, the Los Angeles Times, Legal Times and, just yesterday, The Washington Post -- has reported Roberts's membership as a fact. One liberal group opposed to Roberts's nomination, the Alliance for Justice, has noted it on its Web site.

But they are wrong. John Roberts is not, in fact, a member of the Federalist Society, and he says he never has been.

AND:

"That's a good question, let me think. Now that you mention it -- no," was former Bush Justice Department official Viet Dinh's response when asked if he had ever spotted Roberts at any Federalist events.

A related question is why Roberts would not want to be a member.

Some conservatives said that a Federalist affiliation, while a definite plus within Bush administration circles, could only provoke hostile questions from Senate Democrats -- so Roberts, in keeping with his low-key approach to conservatism, just steered clear.

"It's smart from his perspective," a former Bush administration official said.

Oh yes, it is good thing that he chose to be a spineless weasel...

--WP