# World's smallest violin playing for Samuel Alito's wife. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 12, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720 "2006-01-12T22:05:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/81 "2006-01-13T01:43:47Z")
Still, I can’t imagine any judge who is an position to be elevated to the Supreme Court not being familiar with the nastiness of the Bork/Thomas hearings. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/82 "2006-01-13T01:45:11Z")
I blame Alito. “Honey, you want to sit behind me? That’s great, love to have you, but you do understand that in the most honorable vetting process, there’s still going to be a little probing into sensitive areas, don’t you? I might get asked about some whackjob organization I was a quasi-member of when I was a kid, or some nonsense your loony father spouted off about once upon a time, or some stocks I owned, or the time I sold that Camaro to the guy who claimed I didn’t warn him about that nasty problem wtih the brakes, or who knows what, and it’s all good. That’s part of the deal, it’s like going to the dentist when he probes with that sharp metal thingy, you know? He’s just looking for problems and it hurts a bit for a short time. You don’t start weeping at the dentist’s, do you, darling? Of course not, because you’re a big girl now, and it would embarrass me and make me look like a weak and pathetic limpdick motherfucker if you made a big fuss over this. You understand that? Good. Now give daddy a big kiss.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/83 "2006-01-13T01:49:11Z")
> [@Dewey Cheatem Undhow](#): > > I’ll wait until you give me one legitimate reason to believe that she was crying because she thought her husband was being treated unfairly, rather than simply because she didn’t handle the strain of watching her husband being grilled very well. In that case, then why are Lindsey Graham _et al_ blaming it on the Democrats’ “abuse?” How about this from Orrin Hatch: > [@](#): > > Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah suggested that Alito’s wife was upset with the comments of Democrats. “She’s sick and tired of the mistreatment of her husband,” So, is Hatch an asshole for saying that? He flat out claimed that Alito was being"mistreated." Is that not bullshit. If I’m a dick for thinking that her crying was a reaction to questioning then what do you say to those who claim the Democrats were “abusing” or “mistreating” her husband? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/84 "2006-01-13T01:52:59Z")
> [@Dewey Cheatem Undhow](#): > > Lemme tell you about my mom. Sweet lady. Lovely person. Cares about just about everybody. When she meets someone, she’s more likely to give 'em a hug than shake their hand. And I’ll tell ya, she’ll cry at the drop of a dime, and not always – hell, infrequently – for entirely rational reasons. She’s just a naturally emotional person, and I wouldn’t have her any other way, because that’s what makes her so damned sweet. > > I guaran-damn-tee you that if it was me in that chair, she’d probably excuse herself from the gallery multiple times, because she wouldn’t enjoy watching me get questioned rigorously – even if those questions are entirely fair and appropriate for a judicial nominee. And that doesn’t make her a media grandstanding whore, or a “cow” who is “disconnected from reality.” It makes her a mother who cares for her son, nothing more and nothing less. > > And thinking that such an act would make her a “cow” living in some kind of fantasyland makes _you_ an asshole. I will say that these are fair points and I’ll withdraw judgement of the wife. I apologize for calling her a cow and I had no basis for questioning her sincereity. Having said that, the comments by the likes of Graham and Hatch are still complete bullshit and they should be called on it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/85 "2006-01-13T02:13:39Z")
First off, **Sampiro** , that was hilarious. Alright, next, **Diogenes** , the fact that the committee’s agressive questioning was appropriate, justified and expected places no emotional requirements on Ms. Bomgardner. Let me try to illustrate my point with a personal anecdote: When I was young, I cut my left thumb pretty deep. My parents took me to the doctor’s office, where the doctor had to numb the wound before he could stich it up. The doctor had to inject the anesthetic directly into the wound, and it hurt like hell. I was screaming and a nurse had to hold me still so the doctor could work. Years later, my father told me that he’d had to leave the room until after the doctor had given me the shot and I’d calmed down. Even though Dad knew that what the doctor was doing was necessary, he was mad as hell at him for causing me pain. For me, the real question is: > [@dalej42](#): > > By the way, why does he have his wife along for a job interview? This was my thought process upon hearing this story this morning: "Crying in front of a national audience? Ugh, how embarrassing. Poor form. Republicans took advantage of her emotions to say that the Dems were big meanies? Ugh, how childish. Poor form. Wait, why was she there in the first place? If my husband was going before a riled-up confirmation committee, I’d stay the hell away so I wouldn’t have to watch him get attacked and risk breaking into tears in front of a national audience. Well, unless he really wanted me there for moral support, then I guess I’d go. Oh . . . " Unlike **Diogenes** , though, I’m not wholeheartedly convinced that my baseless suppositions are undeniable truth. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/86 "2006-01-13T02:14:51Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Given that response by the nominee, one would have to say: > > Evasiveness, thy name is **Alito**! > I suppose we’ll just have to wait until the next challenge to _Roe_, to see if a heretofore scrupulously uncommitted Alito decides that, my goodness, that **is** a valid argument for overturning _Roe_! The light has dawned! Count me in!!! There are lots of good reasons for overturning _Roe_. Even though I support a woman’s right to choose, and (very grudgingly) support the _Roe_ decision, I’m not so blinded by partisanship that I can’t recognize that. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/87 "2006-01-13T02:19:25Z")
“Honey, listen, I’ve just agreed to go fifteen rounds with Smokin’ Joe Frazier in his prime–I know I’ll get beat up pretty bad, but I really want to do this, I want to make the money, I’d love to get this shot at a national audience, it’s a once-in a-lifetime dream, and after it’s over, we’ll be set for life. But I know you hate violence, so I’m going to ask you to stay home. You can visit me in the hospital afterwards, of course–I’ve already booked a room and some ER time at Mount Sinai–but I don’t think you should watch the fight. Is that OK with you?” ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/88 "2006-01-13T03:04:20Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > If I thought the wife had been given any legitimate reason to cry, I’d go easy on her but her husband was in no way being “abused” or treated unfairly. All the questioning about his past affiliations was completely appropriate and warranted. If her crying was authentic (though I find it a little too convenient that she was positioned in prime camera range right behind her husband) then she’s way too hypersensitive and thin-skinned to be there at all. If she’s that high strung then somebody should have informed her that it wasn’t just going to be a butt-kissing exercise and that her husband might have to answer some questions about his past that he didn’t want to answer. Hey, I’m with you on the thin skinned part. I’m with you on the media playing it up. It’s the first part of your post with the “grow a pair” and the “likely staged” part that get me. It’s over the top. She is his wife. She’s not likely to be sitting in the distance some eight miles away from him. She’s going to want to be as close as possible. I’m fairly certain the crying was genuine simply because it’s an easier explanation than a staged weep-a-thon to make her husband seem sympathetic. That said, I hope she doesn’t read this thread. It’d probably kill her. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/89 "2006-01-13T03:07:46Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Hey, I’m with you on the thin skinned part. I’m with you on the media playing it up. It’s the first part of your post with the “grow a pair” and the “likely staged” part that get me. It’s over the top. She is his wife. She’s not likely to be sitting in the distance some eight miles away from him. She’s going to want to be as close as possible. I’m fairly certain the crying was genuine simply because it’s an easier explanation than a staged weep-a-thon to make her husband seem sympathetic. > > That said, I hope she doesn’t read this thread. It’d probably kill her. Read my last post. I’ve backed all the way off of the wife. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/90 "2006-01-13T03:17:55Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I will say that these are fair points and I’ll withdraw judgement of the wife. I apologize for calling her a cow and I had no basis for questioning her sincereity. > > Having said that, the comments by the likes of Graham and Hatch are still complete bullshit and they should be called on it. Good show. I read the OP and was all ready to be all, shut up, **Diogenes**! Then I read **Dewey’s** post and was all, Well said, **Dewey**! But now you’ve apologized and backed off of the shutuppable parts, and all that’s left is to agree that Graham and Hatch are being stupidheads over this. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/91 "2006-01-13T03:22:44Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > I blame Alito. > > “Honey, you want to sit behind me? That’s great, love to have you, but you do understand that in the most honorable vetting process, there’s still going to be a little probing into sensitive areas, don’t you? I might get asked about some whackjob organization I was a quasi-member of when I was a kid, or some nonsense your loony father spouted off about once upon a time, or some stocks I owned, or the time I sold that Camaro to the guy who claimed I didn’t warn him about that nasty problem wtih the brakes, or who knows what, and it’s all good. That’s part of the deal, it’s like going to the dentist when he probes with that sharp metal thingy, you know? He’s just looking for problems and it hurts a bit for a short time. You don’t start weeping at the dentist’s, do you, darling? Of course not, because you’re a big girl now, and it would embarrass me and make me look like a weak and pathetic limpdick motherfucker if you made a big fuss over this. You understand that? Good. Now give daddy a big kiss.” Yes, and because the couple couldn’t figure out for 100% certain in advance that the wife was going to cry, it’s Alito’s fault. :rolleyes: Listen: **IT’S NO ONE’S FAULT!** The lady started crying. **BFD**. It isn’t the first time someone did that in public and it won’t be the last. Let’s hope she chalks it up to experience and learns from it instead of having a bunch of armchair quarterbacks overanalyzing a simple public sobbing event. And even if she knew she was going to cry, I don’t blame her for wanting to witness what might be her husband’s most significant career milestone. **Diogenes** : Good on you for seeing the light. Now, quit watching so much FoxNews!!! ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/92 "2006-01-13T03:23:42Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > If the crying wasn’t staged then the woman is incredibly arrogant for thinking that no one should be allowed to ask her husband tough questions. I’m picturing a court room where a man standing trial for murder. The prosecuter starts getting very dramatic when he takes the stand in a very _Law & Order_ kind of way. After laying his case, he starts in with the “You killed him, didn’t you? You KILLED him! You’re a MURDERER, isn’t that true?” The courtroom gets silent when **Dio** stands up, points accusingly at the perp’s wife in the audience and shouts, “Stop crying, you cow! You should’ve known they were going to ask him tough questions!” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/93 "2006-01-13T03:26:42Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Given that response by the nominee, one would have to say: > > Evasiveness, thy name is Alito! > I suppose we’ll just have to wait until the next challenge to Roe, to see if a heretofore scrupulously uncommitted Alito decides that, my goodness, that is a valid argument for overturning Roe! The light has dawned! Count me in!!! > [@Weirddave](#): > > There are lots of good reasons for overturning _Roe_. Even though I support a woman’s right to choose, and (very grudgingly) support the _Roe_ decision, I’m not so blinded by partisanship that I can’t recognize that. I’ve no idea what’s blinding _you_, but I suggest a vision check pronto. Your rejoinder has nothing to do with what I posted, which was a response to **John Mace** relating to candor by judicial nominees. The merits of Roe vs. Wade are best left to other threads (ad nauseam), don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![lonesome\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/94 "2006-01-13T03:28:31Z")
This is custom made bullshit. While I would not have described her as DTC did. But come on, she’s a grown woman. It’s obvious it was done for the cameras. Fits a bit to well into the administrations needs. The right wing media was ready for it. Took the handoff and ran with it. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/95 "2006-01-13T03:28:34Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > I’m picturing a court room where a man standing trial for murder. The prosecuter starts getting very dramatic when he takes the stand in a very _Law & Order_ kind of way. After laying his case, he starts in with the “You killed him, didn’t you? You KILLED him! You’re a MURDERER, isn’t that true?” You’re comparing Alito to a MURDERER now? Wow, I thought those Demmies were rough with their rhetoric. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/96 "2006-01-13T03:30:50Z")
> [@lonesome loser](#): > > This is custom made bullshit. While I would not have described her as DTC did. But come on, she’s a grown woman. It’s obvious it was done for the cameras. It is nothing of the sort. This sort of bullshit is disastrous to the Democratic party, and as someone who really wants Democrats to win, I wish you’d stop, or at least go join some other party. Not the Greens, though: they’re my ultimate fantasy party. (Well, capitalize “Party” and that’s true). Daniel ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/97 "2006-01-13T03:34:49Z")
Wait. I just thought of something. And it is very disturbing. Follow me here. **Diogenes**. Have you ever had a thick, juicy hamburger? I know you have, and you must have enjoyed it. Will you have another in the future? I’ll bet you will. And where will that hamburger come from? A cow. That cow must die before you can enjoy the deliciousness. So here’s the question. Why do you want Alito’s wife to die? It just seems a bit mean-spirited. I’m so disappointed in you that I now must go kick my dog to feel better. Damn you! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/98 "2006-01-13T03:37:18Z")
> [@lonesome loser](#): > > This is custom made bullshit. While I would not have described her as DTC did. But come on, she’s a grown woman. It’s obvious it was done for the cameras. > > Fits a bit to well into the administrations needs. > > The right wing media was ready for it. Took the handoff and ran with it. \*\*Dio \*\*comes to his senses and… the \*\*Loser \*\*picks up the slack. Well done, shit-for-brains! > [@Jackmannii](#): > > Evasiveness, thy name is Alito! Ahm but thy mother is Ginsburg! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/99 "2006-01-13T03:56:49Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > It’s not a legitimate analogy, moron. Nobody at the hearing was attacking Alito’s wife. To make your scenario analogous, you would need to have BILL be the one who was crying about criticism of his wife, in which case, he could rightly be called a pussy. Shit! Who gave you the triple espresso with extra testosterone? ---
**Author:** ![lonesome\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720/100 "2006-01-13T04:01:52Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > It is nothing of the sort. This sort of bullshit is disastrous to the Democratic party, and as someone who really wants Democrats to win, I wish you’d stop, or at least go join some other party. Not the Greens, though: they’re my ultimate fantasy party. (Well, capitalize “Party” and that’s true). > > Daniel You **know** it wasn’t a game? You have inside info or what? It’s not like the republicans have never played games you know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/worlds-smallest-violin-playing-for-samuel-alitos-wife/339720.md?page=6)