One of the most curious and awkward traditions of Capitol Hill is the practice of shepherding a Supreme Court nominee to the offices of senators who will eventually vote on his or her confirmation. The visits almost always produce some discomfiting photo-ops, and Elena Kagan's gantlet has been no exception.
On Wednesday, for instance, Kagan met with Senate Judiciary Committee veteran Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Their discussion opened by exchanging pleasantries. "It's a beautiful office," Kagan told Hatch, as they sat before dozens of photographers clamoring for the perfect shot. "Yeah, well, there's some nice stuff here," Hatch allowed.
And that's when it got weird. "You're going to get mad," Hatch said, motioning above the reporters, where a gun hung on the wall. "Man of the Year from the National Rifle Association," the senator explained. "It's a piece of art, really."
Kagan, an amused look on her face, nodded. "It's beautiful," she said, staring at the gun.
"It's a handmade flintlock, and it's beautiful," Hatch said.
"It's gorgeous," Kagan replied, as the press was hustled out of the room.
One reason the gun exchange came off as a bit forced is that memos released from Kagan's tenure as a Supreme Court clerk show her saying she was "not sympathetic" to the right-to-bear-arms argument of a prospective Supreme Court plaintiff. (The appellant argued that his constitutional right was violated when he was convicted for carrying an unlicensed firearm in violation of the District of Columbia gun ban.)
