Page 4-Tuesday, November 6, 1979-The Michigan Daily r rirr Mirliigau zuIg Ninety Years of Editorial Freedom WAISHINGiTON The President's supreme court politics WINDOW Vol. LXXXX, No. 53 News Phone: 764-0552 ' 1 . . - -- --- Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan Bolivia's democratic setback N BOLIVIA, it has been said, gov- The course of the new, illegitimate ernments rise and fall with the government is already coming clear; seasons. It has become something of martial law has been imposed, air for- an established ritual for the military to ce jets and rockets are enforcing the overthrow elected civilian governmen- new regime's authority, and the ts, to replace them with heavy-handed congress-the Bolivian people's, link autocracies, and then to schedule new with their government-has been or- elections for the future. dered dissolved. Bolivia has reverted This time, more than ever, Bolivians from the threshhold of restoring and the entire world have reason to be democracy to a dictatorial kind of incensed. The democratically-elected military autocracy, sending chills government of President Walter down the spines of believers in Guevara Arze was only 11 weeks old. democracy. Congress had just been restored in The United States acted July after 12 years in abysc. Bolivia, courageously in refusing to condone after a decade of military rule, was this usurpation of democracy: In cut- finally on its way to restoring true ting off aid to Bolivia, the Carter ad- democracy, where citizens have the ministration has demonstrated it right to choose their leadership, where refuses to recognize illegitimate dissidence is tolerated, and where governments that seize power at gun- political oppression is a part of the point. If other responsible governmen- working system. But the Bolivian ex- ts follow suit, the Bolivian military periment in democracy never got off may find that in the face of adverse the ground, being overturned in a world, opinion, its days of running military coup and Calling the way of rough-shod over democracy are over. past attempts at democracy. Misty Beethoven: An X-rated con roversy Brennan ... considering retirement Carter Kennedy ... may name his successor . . . a key role in nomination WASHINGTON - The possible resignation of Justice William Brennan in the summer could give President Carter his only chance to name a member of the Supreme Court. Yet, the realities of politics being what they are, Carter may be denied even that one chance - one of the most cherished of presidential -perogatives. TO DATE, BRENNAN has only said that he is considering resigning at the end of thie court's present term and that he has not reached a firm decision.I It could be that Brennan - the oldest mem- ber of the Supreme Court in age as well as service - will choose toustaynanother term or more. But if Brennan, the leading spokesman for liberal philosophy on the high bench, decides to call it a career, there is no guarantee that Carter will be the one to name his replacement. In fact, the only way that the president could make the selection is for him to choose a nominee acceptable both to the Republicans and to Sen. Edward Kennedy, (D-Mass.) That would seemimpossible. KENNEDY'S INFLUENCE on the nomination would be great - even if Carter somehow manages to dispose of him as a con- tender for the Democratic nomination. If, on the other hand, Kennedy is about to supplant Carter as the Democrats' standard- bearer, than his influence becomes even greater. By Steve Gerstel As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Com- mittee, Kennedy would play a key role in determining the nomination and there are several alternatives open to him. If he seems to be losing the nomination, Kennedy might work with Carter in finding a nominee they could both support. SHOULD HE BE headed for victory, Ken- nedy could adopt the same approach in the spirit of party harmony. However, it seems more likely that Ken-, nedy would then hold out for a liberal - in the mold-of Brennan - rather than make any compromise with Carter. As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Kennedy would have a great many ways to delay a decision by the Senate. For instance, he could pigeon-hole the nomination, claiming that the campaign made it impossible for him to sit through any lengthy hearings and debate. EVEN IF CARTER and Kennedy find a consensus, there would be no way for them to push the nomination through the Senate. Who, among the Republicans, would vote for a Democratic nominee, when, in 1981 aV GOP president might be sending a name up to Capitol Hill. History would be repeating itself. Lyndon Johnson tried to pull off a double play that was just too much for the Republicans to swallow - although Senate GOP leader Everett Dirksen went along. THE PLAN JOHNSON offered the Senate was to elevate an old friend, Abe Fortas, to, the post of chief justice and have a Texas- crony, Homer Thornberry, take over Fortas' seat on the Supreme Court. Whatever the merits of the nomination, the, Republicans were not about to let Johnson fill, a vacancy on the Supreme Court. A presiden-: tial election was coming up and the Democrats were in trouble. Led by former Sen. Robert Griffin of Michigan, the GOP launched a filibusters which the Democrats could not crack despite, several attempts. Johnson was forced toy withdraw the nomination.4 wFortas retained his seat until he was forced- to resign; Thornberry never left home; and Richard Nixon named the new chief justice. Senate Republicans now number 41, enough to keep a filibuster going. And some conser- vative Democrats would probably become; silent partners. Carter appears to be in a no-win- situation-unless he is re-elected. R ARELY DOES a movie shown on campus stir controversy. Last weekend's showing of the X-rated film, "The Opening of Misty Beethoven," was an exception. More than 25 people handed out leaflets urging people not to see the film because it perpetuates the dehumanization of all individuals. Their contention has some validity. Many pornographic films display con- tinual oppressior of women which of- ten spread throughout society, and don't just remain in the theater. A lot of- other movies-with different ratings-illustrate similar tendencies. Nobody is sure how dangerous these movies are to thepopulace. Attitudes toward sex and human relations come from a multitude of sources, and the cinema world is just one of them. But it is clear that by expressing these views, the pornographic industry is a key con- tributor to their existence. Many people see these movies and enough would probably be influenced that these levels of oppression apply in everyday life. The danger is there, and if the modern levels of oppression and dehumanization are to ever disappear, people will have to start understanding the ideas in such films. By informing those who attended of the movie's underlying theme which exists in many X-rated films, the group of protesters served an important role, for only by notification can people learn about these ideas. Many go to pornographic films without ever thinking twice about the movies' im- plications. Yet, at the same time, the protesters played more than just the role of the in- formers. They went beyond that by trying to persuade people to not see the picture. Though in a quiet and peaceful manner, this type of persuasion is an unhealthy element in society. It seeks to dictate one group's morality to the majority of people. One group says this movie-or any free expression of art and culture-is bad for you and wants everyone else to agree. The other group may resist, but if the protesters garner enough support, most likely the movie will not return next year. If those who 'protested this past weekend succeed and the movie fails to come back to campus, that would be also an unfortunate development. It would have almost the same impact as a censorship law. For while those who wanted to show the movie would still have the right under the U.S. Con- stitituion, a smaller attendance would effectively convince them to show the movie elsewhere. That applies to most pornographic films and other movies showing the similar kinds of op- pression and dehumanization. Their ideas may perpetuate the problems of many of today's human relationships, but they have the right to express them. Not only should there be no for- mal law against that constitutional privilege, but there must also be no widespread movement or call for people to stop attending X-rated or other kinds of films. The expression of art and culture-including books, magazines, etc.-in this country is recognized as a crucial right, and can not be eliminated, or even tarnished. Spacy Jane By Tom Steve ns Y O U R ILLk R Sc IWOR~K FQZTHE CIA -i c.t -7 Letters to Th..e Daily , f r , o. Aff To the Daily: At the risk of seeming like some blankity blank blank Democrat, my presence at Senator Kennedy's nationally televised Georgetown University speech should not be construed as anything other than an analyzed, well-thought-out faux pax. Hey, how am I gonna know what's going on in the enemy camp if I don't indulge in a little covert un- der-cover surveillance! Besides, it would have been a real over- sight if I hadn't taken advantage of the free publicity too. Love and Roses, Richard Robinson To the Daily: Ther withholding of federal Medicaid funding for elective abortions has significant ramifications in other areas. There are racist or social class implications of our nation having -different standards for the poor, the young and the minorities than for their more fortunate counter- parts. Though we claim to provide good health care for those who cannot afford it, abor- tion is an exception. We have seen the results of pregnancies carried to term by teenaged girls abuse or neglect these children. Sometimes the child is shunted around from one caretaker to another and suffers irreparable psychological damage in the ability to relate to other human beings. Such mothers may desperately seek a partner to help care for the child, but such pressured relationships are often unstable and unsatisfactory to both mother- and child. And our social agencies, set up to protect and assist such disadvan- taged women and their children are usually overloaded and under funded. Even adoption and foster care arrangements become problematic at times with custody disputes seriously delaying permanent placement. Unless we change our priorities as a nation to better support these children, is it fair to force them into our hostile world without love, concern and protection? Michael R. Liepman,.M.D.. Marcia K. Liepman, M.D. To the Daily: " Chad Green, a three-year-old, died of leukemia last week in Mexico. His parents had taken him off conventional cancer treatments nine months before and he was being treated with 79 to 22 vote. As chair of Health and Social Services I undertook a serious study of the bill, and at an impartial public hearing we took testimony from physicians, pharmacists, Food and Drug Administration officials, and' from cancer patients. I was particularly moved by the testimony of Dr. Marilyn Slot- feld, a Mott Children's Hospital pharmacist. She described several young children stricken with cancer who were taken off effective treatment because Laetrile proponents had offered them a cure. Most returned to the, hospital months later, much more ill than before and often beyond medical help.-The com- mittee voted to defeat the bill. Some of my Senate colleagues discussed the possibility of discharging the bill from my committee and attempts were made by both the House and Senate to attach the Laetrile issue to other legislation. I led the fight against such actions and I believe my arguments turned the tide against Laetrile and preven- ted it from being legalized in this state. I believe it would have been a tragedy for this state to get in the business of legitimizing the exploitation of those suffering tion, this belief has become law through recent Congressional Ac- tion. The Beard Amendment allows employers to refuse coverage for abortion services in' their health insurance policies while allowing a woman to choose sterilization or childbirth under that same policy. The Hyde Amendment, whicl applies to Medicaid recipients; prohibits abortion except for rape or incest victims who report promptly (within 60 days) to law enforcement agency or public health agency; to save the life of a woman; and if severe and longlasting physical healtl damage would result from child- birth. This means indigent childreo who are victims of rape and ini cest may not receive a funded abortion of they or their parents don't know or understand the terminology. Many persons opposed'td freedom of choice maintain that if women would use birth control; there would be no need for abora tion. However, even whem used perfectly, all contraceptive methods fail occasionally. In a' one year survey of couples trying to prevent pregnancy, four in 10Q using the Pill had unwantei 1