Posted on 05/19/2008 7:44:51 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
John McCain and Barack Obama, the two leading presidential candidates, have set out sharply contrasting views on the role of the Supreme Court and the kind of justices they would appoint.
Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.), in a speech two weeks ago, echoed the views of conservatives who say "judicial activism" is the central problem facing the judiciary. He called it the "common and systematic abuse . . . by an elite group . . . we entrust with judicial power." On Thursday, he criticized the California Supreme Court for giving gays and lesbians the right to marry, saying he doesn't "believe judges should be making these decisions."
Sen. Obama (D-Ill.) said he was most concerned about a conservative court that tilted to the side of "the powerful against the powerless," and to corporations and the government against individuals. "What's truly elitist is to appoint judges who will protect the powerful and leave ordinary Americans to fend for themselves," he said in response to McCain.
During one campaign stop, Obama spoke admiringly of Chief Justice Earl Warren, the former California governor who led the court in the 1950s and '60s, when it struck down racial segregation and championed the cause of civil rights.
Obama has also praised current Justices Stephen G. Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David H. Souter. "I want people on the bench who have enough empathy, enough feeling, for what ordinary people are going through," Obama said.
It is not just a theoretical policy debate.
Whoever is elected in November will probably have the chance to appoint at least one justice in the next presidential term. The court's two most liberal justices are its oldest: John Paul Stevens turned 88 last month, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 75.
McCain promised that, if elected, he would follow President Bush's model
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
See my tagline...
This is the most important thing at stake, except possibly the War on Terror.
Regarding your tagline: So how are Hillary and Obama doing? Convinced yet? :)
This is the most important issue of the election.
Puleeeaaase!
McCain will be facing 60 DemocRAT Senators. He wouldn’t even bother nominating a Roberts or Alito.
McCain will quickly cave and give us legacy of liberal SCOTUS judges for years and years to come!
Why would you assume that? A new President has a mandate and time to make appointments. He’s the mover. Congress can’t just sit there for years and do nothing.
I've been convinced that we can't "sit this one out" or "write-in a conservative" or "vote third party" or any other feel good alternative for some time. Out troops, our Supreme Court & other federal appointments and our nation are too important to let a neophyte proto-Marxist race-baiting Chance Gardener anywhere near the Oval Office. Was anyone here really under the delusion that President Bush was a "Reagan Republican" prior to the 2000 election? But did you vote for him? Of course! Half a loaf and all that...
Here is a telling excerpt from the article:
“If elected, Obama would be hard-pressed to create a truly liberal court. But by replacing the aging liberal justices with liberals, he could preserve abortion rights and maintain a strict separation of church and state.”
Enough said.
Can you imagine God forbid if something happened to Scalia and he was seat was filled by that pr**k Obama? Heck, even if Congress forced his hand on Stevens or Ginsburg to replace them with a moderate even McCain knows he would be expected to replace Scalia with a solid conservative and Scalia is of enough stature where even congress would not dare risk the public outcry of disrespecting Scalia’s successor.
Empty rhetoric. ...completely without substance. Obama couldn't cite one example of the conservatives on the court siding against "the powerless." In fact, the exact opposite is true -- Justices Affirm Property Seizures.
That was a 5 - 4 decision, and it was the liberals on the court that comprised the majority.
But as usual, reality means precisely squat to the Left. They just make stuff up, and the sheeple buy it unquestioningly.
If Tom Coburn can trust McCain on judicial picks - and word is that was the selling point for earning his endorsement - then it’s good enough for me. TOM COBURN for crying out loud!
I can’t wait to see the heads explode when McCain nominates Coburn for SCOTUS!!!
LOL!
John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg as headed for retirement, and it’s more likely than not that David Souter will leave also.
Not quite. It's the MSM that buys it unquestioningly. Then unblushingly repeats it as it were true.
Obama appointing Supreme Court Justices alarms me more.
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