Obama Criticizes Justice Roberts’ Umpire Analogy

AZCONSERVATIVE ^ | 20 July 2007 | John Semmens

[John Semmens]

Presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama took issue with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts’ characterization of a judge’s role as similar to that of an umpire at a baseball game.

“Justice Roberts said he saw himself just as an umpire,” Obama said. “But we need somebody who’s got the empathy to recognize that the rules may need to be different for some people. Should a batter with bad eyesight or slow reflexes get the same number of strikes as a more capable player? Should an obese runner have to run the same 90 feet between bases? Roberts’ attitude of indifference to differences would say yes. I say no.”

Obama said he sees the role of the courts as “an offset to the injustices divvied out by nature. Some people are born stupid, lazy, or reckless. Should a person with this misfortune be the sole victim of his actions? Or should society step in and apportion the costs more broadly? Normally, this reapportionment ought to be undertaken by the legislative branch. However, when the legislature lacks the will or ability we must look to the courts to balance the scales.”

In his “broader vision of what America should be,” Obama said that if elected president he would look to appoint judges who know what it’s like to be gay, poor or black. “All those who’ve been named to the court to-date by any administration have been drawn from the ranks of the elite,” Obama observed. “They are well-educated people of accomplishment. It’s time for the underclass to gain representation on this body.” To fulfill his vision, Obama pledged that his first Supreme Court nominee would be a gay, black homeless person.

[irishtenor]

Good grief. He CAN’T get in. He is much too stupid. All ballplayer follow the same rules, doesn’t matter how much they weigh, how slow they are, give me a break.

[AVNevis]

I seriously fear for the future of our Republic should this man be elected to the presidency. Normally I wouldn't say that. America could survive a Democratic presidency mostly intact under some members of that party, such as Hilary or even Richardson. They are so worried about political popularity that they would be pressured to due the right thing if it really mattered.

But Obama really concerns me. He obviously has a view of the Constitution radically different than what the founders intended. The very point of the judiciary is NOT to let empathy influence decisions. A judge's job is to listen to the facts, review the law, and then rule solely according to those rules prescribed by the congress and Constitution. Empathy doesn't come into play anywhere. As a Harvard Law graduate, Obama should understand this. Combine this with his recent unpresidential even to a Democrat answers to national security questions and we have a real problem should he grace 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[gemma0000]

"Justice Roberts said he saw himself just as an umpire,” Obama said. “But we need somebody who’s got the empathy to recognize that the rules may need to be different for some people. Should a batter with bad eyesight or slow reflexes get the same number of strikes as a more capable player? Should an obese runner have to run the same 90 feet between bases?"

Huh? This man is running for President? Yikes, that's scarey, and so far he's holding his own and winning people over. What does that say about the mentality of the American people?

[Sterm26]

It’s not just Obama. ANY Dem who gets into the Presidency will do the same thing. It’s not how the Constitution is written, it’s about how the justices feel on the day that the rule on something. Elections do matter.

[driftless2]

hey folks, this is SATIRE!!! Mister Semmens is a master of capturing the thoughts if not the words of idiot libs like Obama. He didn’t say those things, but he probably believes they should be true.