Rising Hegemon
"Recognize this [abortion rights] is the decision that will be made by the Supreme Court," he said. "The Democrats try and make this a political issue every four years, but this is a matter in the courts. It's been settled for some time in the courts."I mean, just because at present there are four justices determined to eliminate Roe v. Wade and the next justice will tip the balance doesn't mean who's President has anything to do with it, it's not like the President appoints 'em, right Mitt?
[cross-posted at Firedoglake]
4 comments:
I'm not sure that the phalanx of right-wing judges on the court are all that concerned about abortion (although they do understand that the issue is red meat for the wackadoos that the Repugs have been cultivating for several decades). If they were to resolve the issue in the wackadoos' favor (and there have been any number of cases they could have taken on to accomplish that end, with a little browbeating of fellow Catholic, Justice Kennedy), the Repugs might lose a considerable part of their base, many of whom would declare "mission accomplished," and retreat from the secular political world to their churches once more. The perennial promise to do something about abortion is good enough to keep them voting for right-wingers.
The real issue is about taking cases in which corporate rights can be made superior to individual, human rights and, unfortunately, the broader court has been very helpful toward that end for a long, long time.
If I recall the history of the religious right's concerted attack on the government correctly, it began not with Roe v. Wade, but with the revocation of the tax-exempt status of Bob Jones University because of the school's discriminatory practices. Jerry Falwell convened a private meeting of select Southern preachers about the matter and all decided that complaining about it wasn't going to resonate with the general public (demanding tax-free status to religiously discriminate against blacks was expecting quite a bit from the country outside of the South). So, Falwell asked, in effect, what do we do to get God-fearing people riled up about the gummint?
Someone piped up, "what about abortion?" And, the issue, along with the culture war, was born.
In short, I think the Repugs need that promise of action to keep themselves in the game, so the SC isn't going to throw it away, especially when the real prize--turning over governance to "the markets"--is still a work in progress.
What is with the syntax of that quote? Is it that abortion will be decided (future tense) by the court (that is, ostensibly by a justice of Mitt's choosing), or is it that abortion was decided (past tense) by the court during Roe v. Wade, or is just a botched attempt to deliver a carefully crafted message that would be all things to all people?
I had the same first thought.
How can this be "a matter in the courts" when, at the same time, "it's been settled for some time in the courts"?
And Democrats make this a political issue? Republicans introduce 46 bills on abortion, and this yabbo says Democrats make it political? Time to change the magic panties, Mitt.
A.J.
and defund planned parenthood.....
Post a Comment