There's So Much Wrong With This

The person rumored to be Obama's #1 pick for Souter's replacement on the Supreme Court is Sonia Sotomayor. It's partly because she's a woman and a minority, but also partly because of this:

So why is this video such a dangerous thing? As you saw for yourself, she believes that law should be written from the bench. By the courts, one judge at a time. Judges who are appointed by politicians and serve for life.

Remember, though, that the law is actually supposed to be written by legislators in the Congress and the House (and at the state and local levels)...who are elected by and answerable to the American people.

Quite a big difference, don't you think?

But hey, why would disregard for the Constitution cause problems for one of Obama's Supreme court nominees? It sure doesn't for Obama.

If you haven't read it before, you need to review an interview from 2001 in which Obama admits that he disagrees with the fundamental premise of the Constitution - that all are created equal, and that the government should be limited. This fits right in with creating law from the bench - a judge who seeks to impress his or her own agenda onto the American people can do so, even if it is contrary to the Constitution. Under normal circumstances, such decisions can be appealed to higher courts, but in this case there is no higher court.

So, what kind of justice is Obama seeking for this position? What qualities will he use to prioritize his selection? Watch:

Someone who understands if people can make a living or feel safe in their own nation? With all due respect, what does that have to do with upholding the law? How is empathy more important than competence or experience? Notice he says only that he seeks someone who agrees with him on what the Constitution means, not someone who will hold the Founders' intents as the highest standard.

Heritage sums it up the best, I think, when they say:

These are code words for placing a justice on the Supreme Court who will not be impartial or objective and who will not apply the laws passed by Congress and the provisions of the Constitution framed by our Founders. Obama’s actions since he has been in office make it clear that he believes that the limits the Constitution places on the power of the government are just “some abstract legal theory.” His comments shows that Obama wants a judge who has the same political and social views he does, and who will bend, break, and ignore the Constitution to obtain the political and societal results that liberals want – especially if they cannot obtain them through the legislative process.

Americans want an umpire on the Court who applies the rules of the Constitution and our laws in an objective, nonpartial manner; President Obama apparently wants an umpire who bends or makes up the rules to favor his team. Our constitutional system and its careful balance of power is premised on judges who carry out their roles as judges, not legislators or social activists.

The President’s views should sound an alarm not just throughout the legal community. Citizens whose daily lives are affected more and more by the decisions made by the Supreme Court should be alarmed as well.

This is what we can expect from Obama's judicial nominations. To fill the judiciary with judges that legislate like this is to potentially alter the nature of life in the United States, perhaps beyond recognition. If too many judges like Sotomayor -- and others that Obama clearly wants -- the American people will be more or less at the mercy of men and women with a black robe and an axe to grind, and there is no recourse for their decisions, even when they affect or ruin the lives of people in the real world.

There's my two cents.


Sources:
Legal Insurrection
Ace of Spades
Patterico