"Side Issues"

White House Press Secretary Scott McLellan, a propos Miers:

In a testy exchange with reporters Thursday, McClellan complained that coverage of the nomination has ignored Miers' "record and qualifications" to focus on "side issues" such as her religion.

"I think that we are doing a disservice for the American people when we focus on other issues and not her record and qualifications and experience, because that's what matters when you're on the nation's highest court," he said.

As Baltar points out in an unrelated post, the Bushies haven't exactly treated Miers' religion like a side issue?