Reid: I would have nominated Cadish even had I known she said no constitutional right to bear arms

Monday, April 9, 2012 | 2:25 p.m.

Sen. Harry Reid would still have nominated Elissa Cadish for a federal judgeship even had he known that she told a conservative group in 2008 that she does not believe a right to bear arms is embedded in the Constitution, his spokeswoman said today.

“The questionnaire wouldn’t have changed the fact that Sen. Reid believes she is extremely qualified, one of the most highly respected jurists in Nevada and that is why he recommended her,” Kristen Orthman told me via emai, adding that Reid did not know of the existence of the questionnaire.l.

It is true that Cadish is well respected and an obviously bright and hard-working judge But despite her letter requested by Reid and attached here explaining– or should I say rationalizing and parsing well after the fact? – why she answered a conservative group’s question so bluntly, it is hard to understand declaring such a right does not exist in the Constitution.

I originally reported on this here.

The letter solicited by Reid to try to save her nomination, first reported by the RJ’s Steve Sebelius, puts the best face on an ugly visage, one easily portrayed – or in reality – as a negation of the Second Amendment. Should such an answer, now explained, disqualify an otherwise eminently qualified judge from the federal bench?

Heller says yes, and said on Face to Face on Friday that he will not waver.

In an effort to probe further – or perhaps just be obnoxious – I asked Orthman whether Reid would have answered the question the same way. After several attempts to get an answer and being told the question was not relevant, I gave up.

QED.

We have tried unsuccessfully to get the judge to appear on “Face to Face.”

I still don’t see any pathway for a federal judgeship for Cadish, who is a victim of her inartful response (best case) and the political winds of the day. Heller seems unlikely to relent, and even if he did, she would not be confirmed by a divided Senate, I’d guess.

Most likely resolution: Reid tells Cadish to withdraw, she does and then Reid puts out a statement saying he regrets her withdrawal.

Anyone want to bet?