Three questions for ... Theodore Olson

SF Chronicle ^ | 10.18.09

[trumandogz]

Of all the lawyers who might have challenged California's ban on same-sex marriage, one of the least likely candidates would seem to be Theodore Olson: a high-ranking Justice Department attorney under Ronald Reagan, U.S. solicitor general under George W. Bush, and lawyer for Bush in the Bush vs. Gore case that decided the 2000 presidential election. But when a federal judge in San Francisco held a critical hearing last week in a suit by two same-sex couples challenging Proposition 8, they were represented by Olson and David Boies, his courtroom adversary in Bush vs. Gore. Before the hearing, Olson talked with Chronicle staff writer Bob Egelko about the case.

Q: How did a conservative Republican like you come to support gay rights?

[Regulator]

I have a question. What would Barbara think?

[mnehring]

Theodore Olson as in Ted Olson? Freeper from way back (late 90s) and Barbara Olson’s husband?

[trumandogz]

With the composite of the current Court, Olson and Boies will have the the votes of Stevens, Ginsburg, Bryer, Sotomayor and most likelyKennedy, who wrote the majority opinion in Lawrence v. Texas.

[FrdmLvr]

I was really surprized and saddened when I heard earlier in the year that Olson was going to represent the plaintifs in this case.

[A_Former_Democrat]

My question is . .why are you doing this (honest answer expected) . . . how much you being paid? . . . and who’s paying you?

[vaudine]

Bay area upbringing, Berkely Education=train up a young child in the way he should go and when he is older, he will not depart from it.

This is helping the gays push their agenda in the face of the rest of us. Legal unions are one thing--gives them all the legality they could wish for. Marriage is quite another.

I wonder what his deceased wife, Barbara, would think.

vaudine

[Oldpuppymax]

Just another loafer wearing, lib republican elitist.

[mefistofelerevised]

Morality to lawyers is written $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$4

[trumandogz]

While I am not sure of the opinion of Barbara Olson, I am quite sure of the opinions of Justices, Stevens, Bryer, Ginsburg, Kennedy and Sotomayor.

[Prov3456]

Yup!

[Iron Munro]

Hired guns.

They don’t do it for kicks.

[Gay State Conservative]

And lawyers wonder why they’re as deeply despised as they are.

[Gay State Conservative]

Morality to lawyers is written $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$4

No,I think morality to lawyers involves more than $4. ;-)

[BlueAngel]

I think he has one or two sons and maybe one of them is gay.

[montag813]

"if individuals love one another and want to live in a stable relationship recognized by the state as a community and a family, that strikes me as a conservative value"

By that definition, pedophilic "marriage" is A-Ok, as is polygamy and incestuous marriage. Why not bestiality? Love is love, right?

[fwdude]

Legal unions are one thing--gives them all the legality they could wish for. Marriage is quite another.

I disagree. They are virtually one and the same - or soon will be.

[trumandogz]

I believe by “individuals” he is referring to adult consenting humans.

[Regulator]

Yer weird

Maybe you should reconvert back...

[A_Former_Democrat]

Thanks.

Maybe you didn’t realize I was talking about Ted, not you?

[montag813]

I believe by “individuals” he is referring to adult consenting humans.

Right, such as brothers and sisters or fathers and daughters.

[Regulator]

Well, let’s say it wasn’t obvious...maybe I haven’t had enough caffeine today

[trumandogz]

We have laws against incest and there does not seem to be any organization challenging those laws.

[montag813]

We have laws against incest and there does not seem to be any organization challenging those laws.

And what legal principles underlie those laws? If it is religious or tradition, that is gone with an Olsen-favorable ruling. If it is proceation, that is also gone, since the Olsen case seeks to invalidate procreation as a legal precedent for "marriage". Strip those away and I see nothing to prevent an easy challenge to both incest laws and incestuous matrimony.

[trumandogz]

I am opposed to gay marriage.

However, Olson is going to argue that Prop 8 violates the Equal Protection Clause and this Court will but that argument and overturn Prop 8.

[montag813]

However, Olson is going to argue that Prop 8 violates the Equal Protection Clause and this Court will but that argument and overturn Prop 8.

I agree and believe the Supreme Court will follow suit, due to Kennedy's defection. However I also believe that my incest and polygamy landmines can be utilized to trip up the momentum ad absurdum.

[Dumb_Ox]

So how many other Republicans are going to surrender, after taking so much $ and votes from conservatives?

What do we do then?

[trumandogz]

My take on this is that Olson knows he will win this case at the SCOTUS and will not only have that notch on his belt, but will be known as an attorney that won a major SC case that was not in line with his political ideology.