A little embarrassing for The One, wouldn’t you say?

U.S. Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan said her admiration for a former Israeli chief justice was rooted in her Jewishness and admiration for Israel. …

“[Aharon Barak] is very often called the John Marshall of the State of Israel because he was central in creating an independent judiciary for Israel and in ensuring that Israel — a young nation, a nation threatened from its very beginning in existential ways and a nation without a written constitution — he was central in ensuring that Israel, with all those kinds of liabilities would become a very strong rule of law nation,” she said.

She also admired Barak for personal reasons.

“As you know, I don’t think it’s a secret I am Jewish,” she said. “The State of Israel has meant a lot to me and my family.”

This actually puts Zionist conservatives in a tough spot. On the one hand, we have a rare defense of Israel from someone in the Obama camp that is genuine, well-informed, and morally sensible. On the other, we have an endorsement of an Israeli jurist whose exegetical views would elevate judges into a position not indistinguishable from the philosopher-kings of Plato’s Republic. Obviously, she should be voted down. But still.