With friends like these...

These are some classy statements:

Mr. Holmes has a record of saying startling things, like his statement that rape victims become pregnant as often as it snows in Miami. He also wrote in 1997 that in a marriage "the woman is to place herself under the authority of the man."

Unfortunately, they were uttered by Judge J. Leon Holmes, whom the Senate just confirmed for a seat on the federal bench. It would be so easy to blame the Republicans for this one, but some Republican senators (mostly women, I believe) voted 'Nay'. The Democrats could have killed this nomination, but...

Six Democrats joined most Republicans in supporting Holmes, the former president of Arkansas Right to Life. Five Republicans opposed him.

Thanks a lot, guys.