I GUESS 2 GOP SENATORS ARE ALSO IN ON THE PLOT

Krazies like Glenn Beck and Michele Bachmann (and others) are claiming that Pres. Obama nomination of Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson's brother for a federal judgeship is another sordid deal to get Matheson's vote for health care reform. The truth? Not so much, really...

A White House official called the question “absurd.”

"Scott Matheson is a leading law scholar and has served as a law school dean and U.S. attorney. He’s respected across Utah and eminently qualified to serve on the federal bench,” the official said.

The official said that Scott Matheson was nominated with Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch's support. Indeed, Hatch put out a statement hailing Obama's selection of the Utahan calling Matheson “a bright attorney whose experience has prepared him for judicial service.”

And fellow Republican Utah Sen. Bob Bennett also rejected the notion that Obama was using Scott Matheson’s nomination as leverage.

“Sen. Bennett has heard of all kinds of pressure being applied and offers being made to Democrats for votes on health care, but Scott Matheson’s nomination is not one of those because it has been in the works for a long time,” spokeswoman Tara DiJulio said.