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Gingrich: Pledge Ban Judges Should be Kicked Off Bench
NewsMax.com ^ | 6/26/02 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

Posted on 06/26/2002 7:35:25 PM PDT by kattracks

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said late Wednesday that the two judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals who ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional should be removed from the judiciary.

"These two judges are so out of touch with reality that they should be kicked off the bench," Gingrich told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes."

Bristling at the harsh penalty, "H & C" co-host Alan Colmes protested, "For one decision? You kick judges off if you don't like one decision they make?"

"Absolutely," Gingrich shot back. "Look, this decision goes to the heart of what kind of a country we are."

"A judge who believes that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional is unfit to be a federal judge," he contended.

Nixon appointee Justice Alfred T. Goodwin wrote the majority opinion for the 9th Circuit, saying that the words "under God" violated the Constitution's Establishment Clause. Carter appointee Justice Stephen Reinhardt concurred.

Justice Ferdinand F. Fernandez, who was appointed by President Bush's father, offered the lone dissenting vote.

The Bush Justice Department is expected to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Bush Administration
School Choice



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To: kattracks
"A judge who believes that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional is unfit to be a federal judge," he contended.

Exactly. The judge is in need of impeachment.

21 posted on 06/26/2002 8:00:03 PM PDT by neutrino
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To: sofaman
Thank you! If you hadn't said it, I was gonna.
22 posted on 06/26/2002 8:01:52 PM PDT by goodieD
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To: neutrino
IF the Pledge has said under Allah, the communistic 9th would never of peeped a word. THEY HATE GOD and JESUS.
23 posted on 06/26/2002 8:02:32 PM PDT by GailA
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To: All
Now I'm hearing Savage, attacking the judges. I guess he just showed up late. He's in his glory.

He says he's speaking today in an emergency broadcast while still on vacation.

24 posted on 06/26/2002 8:11:37 PM PDT by aristeides
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To: Ronin
Having Newt the Wonder Twerp on my side in this controvery is not much comfort. I want that hypocritical sleazeball to shut up and go away.

1) Newt lost to a better, more glib, more evil, lying, strategically-thinking, purposely provocational sociopath -- Bill Clinton. I cannot hardly fault the man for that.

2) Even if you said was true, and I disagree with it -- the facts are he still speaks the truth.

25 posted on 06/26/2002 8:20:45 PM PDT by Lazamataz
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To: kattracks
This is so moronic. The "establishment clause" of the Constitution merely prohibited "congress" from passing legislation to create one Christian denomination as the official state church (like the Church of England, the Congregational Church, or the Catholic Church as in past historical experience).

A "state church" involved being required to be a member in order to vote, own property, sit in parliament, attend Oxford & Cambridge, and be exempt from punitive taxes or, in some cases, arrest or execution. It has nothing to do with the mere mentioning of "God" or generic civic prayer or the like. It certainly has nothing to do with "voluntary" speech which refers to God, the soul, or other religious or spiritual verities. These judges are ignorant of history. If the Constitution's establishment clause had banned civic prayer then obviously Congress would not have had a tradition of engaging in such (as it clearly has throughout history).

26 posted on 06/26/2002 8:37:14 PM PDT by HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity
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To: kattracks
Call Federal Judge Alfred Goodwin and demand
that he immediately resign... (415) 556-9800
27 posted on 06/26/2002 8:39:13 PM PDT by WakeUpChristian
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To: DoughtyOne
Since judges are acting and assuming the role of legislators it is dangerous to give them life appointments, now if they are willing to limit themselves to the role of judges then life appointments make sense.
28 posted on 06/26/2002 8:41:10 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP
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To: Ronin
I happen to like him - he is incredibly smart. I wouldn't want to be married to him though but I sure value his opinion on world events.
29 posted on 06/26/2002 8:44:54 PM PDT by Aria
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To: Ronin
Having Newt the Wonder Twerp on my side in this controvery is not much comfort. I want that hypocritical sleazeball to shut up and go away.

I agree. So much promise so stupidly wasted. And such a vile Clintonian when it comes to personal decency. What a self-aggrandizing pig.

30 posted on 06/26/2002 8:54:40 PM PDT by montag813
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