Souter was almost certainly no surprise to those who picked him. While the bases of both parties have certain values, the upper tiers do as well. The base of the GOP supports it for the sake of Christianity and capitalsim, but the upper levels are far more about capitalism, including power and greed. I support capitalism, too, but also see the corruption in everything of this world. And so, for example, the same large corporations supported by Christiann conservatives also have been instrumental in pushing for “gay marriage,” and Fox News tends to promote Christian values while Fox entertainment attacks it. The leadership in both parties has their own agendas, and that of the GOP would overall prefer it to be morally moderate, and will connive and push for it as much as the base allows it to. And one way they’ve tried to do that is with moving the SC to the left on moral issues. There are a lot of ways to do that, and they have, including by choosing Catholics. Eventually they’ll just try leaving Christianity.
Nominating Catholics has not moved the supreme court to the left. Republican presidents have nominated judges of several faiths. The only ones who have held true to principle have been the Catholics.
Ford- John Paul Stevens, Protestant, turned out to be very liberal on the Court.
Reagan- First choice Sandra Day O'Connor, Protestant, was conservative in many decisions but also was very liberal in decisions on affirmative action and other issues.
Reagan- Scalia, Catholic, has been a leading inteelectual on the court and a principled conservative.
Reagan- Bork, Catholic, was a leading intellectual and principled conservative. Democrats were afraid of his ability and integrity and mounted a vicious campaign against him. He was rejected by the Senate.
Reagan- Ginsberg, Jewish, a liberal judge whose nomination was withdrawn.
Reagan- Kennedy, Catholic, a moderate judge often called the swing vote.
G.H.W. Bush- Souter, Protestant, a leftist liberal on the court as liberal as any judge during his term. Resigned from the court during his term.
G.H.W. Bush- Thomas, Catholic, a principled conservative. Has been consistently conservative in his positions.
G.W. Bush- Roberts, Catholic, an intellectual and conservative. His last minute change in his Obamacare opinion was weird but he has been generally conservative.
G.W. Bush- Harriet Meyers, Protestant, liberal to moderate. Her nomination was withdrawn.
G.W. Bush- Alito, Catholic, an intellectual and principled conservative.
Republican presidents have nominated Protestants, Catholics and a Jew. The ONLY ones who have upheld conservative principles are the Catholics. They are the ONLY ones who stood up to the enormous leftist pressure in Washington DC.
You were wrong when you said Republican presidents ONLY nominate Catholics. You were wrong when you said Catholics moved the court to the left.
I missed this one. Please provide the following information:
1) You have previously been asked by another to provide the names of qualified Evangelicals whom GOP presidents might appoint to SCOTUS. We are still waiting to the best of my recollection. Identify them so that all conservatives might support them.
2) Explain in detail how the SCOTUS appointments, ratification and service on SCOTUS of Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, all practicing Catholics, has"moved the SC to the left on moral issues.
3) Define "Christianity" as you use that term in your last sentence.