The Supreme Court: Part 7

So...let's talk about two decisions this summer:

1. The Supreme Court ruled a severe gun control law in Washington D.C. unconstitutional.
Generally, this was a conservative ruling…and it was popular.

2. The Supreme Court ruled the Louisiana death penalty for child rapists law unconstitutional.
Generally, this was a liberal ruling…and it was unpopular.

So...here are two facts about Senator Obama.

1. Senator Obama praised the first decision that struck down the restrictive gun ban. Of course, in reality, Barack Obama LOVED the law the year before. Hypocrisy…there’s no other way to put it, unfortunately.

2. Senator Obama criticized the second decision that struck down the Louisiana law. Of course, in reality, Barack Obama would love to abolish the death penalty…it’s just not politically convenient to say such a thing right now.

So, Barack Obama sided with the conservative, strict constructionists, such as Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia on these couple of high profile cases. So, Senator Obama, who would you NOT nominate to the Supreme Court? Keep in mind that all 9 justices had more legal/judiciary experience when they were appointed than you have executive experience, well…right now.

“I would not have nominated Clarence Thomas…I don't think that he was as strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time for that elevation, setting aside the fact that I profoundly disagree with his interpretations of a lot of the Constitution. I would not nominate Justice Scalia, although I don't think there's any doubt about his intellectual brilliance, because he and I just disagree.” – Barack Obama, August 2008.

Wow…so many words I want to say, but I think I’ll turn it over to Senator McCain. To repeat, after the 5 more liberal justices declared the Louisiana law unconstitutional, Barack Obama criticized the decision, and then McCain responded:

"Why is it that the majority (in the Louisiana case) includes the same justices he usually holds out as the models for future nominations? (Obama) may not care for this particular decision, but it was exactly the kind of opinion we could expect from an Obama court." John McCain, June 2008

Booyah. And, John McCain hit the nail right on the head.