THE EARMARK

Ever since David Souter announced his resignation, news reporters have been racing across Washington, trying to figure out whom President Obama will nominate to fill a soon-to-be-vacant Supreme Court seat.

Apparently they should hang out at more NRA meetings. Or at least ones where RNC Chairman Michael Steele is the guest speaker…

Addressing the National Rifle Association, Steele warned that “liberal Democrats could control every lever of every branch of government” if Obama picks a “young, activist, left-wing justice…

“Sounds like instead of another Judge Roberts, the President is looking to put Doctor Phil on the Court.”

In our judgment, Steele is overestimating Obama’s affinity for Dr. Phil. While it’s true that both the president and the TV psychologist have ridden Oprah’s coattails to considerable fame and power, Obama has actually made reference to Dr. Phil in the past– and it wasn’t exactly to nominate him to the Supreme Court.

We refer to Obama’s scolding of then-opponent John McCain last July, when McCain henchman and recesssion architect Phil Gramm announced that the nation was experiencing a “mental recession” and that America had become “a nation of whiners.”

Obama’s retort to McCain? “Well, you know, America already has one Dr. Phil. We don’t need another one when it comes to the economy.”

If Obama doesn’t think the economy needs a Dr. Phil, we can’t imagine he’d think the Supreme Court does. Anyway, we’re surprised Michael Steele, as Republican-in-chief, hadn’t heard this remark. Now why could that be?

Oh that’s right! He was jockeying to be McCain’s running mate at the time.