Obama’s swipe at the Supreme Court
Jan 30, 2010 My thoughts on...
The U.S. Constitution requires every sitting President of the United States to deliver an annual address to the Congress and the American people expressing his opinion about the current “State of the Union”. Over the centuries these addresses have changed from little more than a two page written “letter” to a full-blown speech delivered in person to both houses of Congress, the President’s cabinet, the members of the Supreme Court and the American people (via live television).
Presidents of all political persuasions have followed a certain protocol for delivering the State of the Union address throughout our nation’s history, and that protocol demands that the President not directly attack or scold either of the other two branches of government in the speech. Well, that protocol has now been thrown out the window by President Obama and his leftist speechwriters.
During this week’s SOTU address, the President looked squarely at the members of the U.S. Supreme Court who were seated before him and scolded them as a group for making a long-awaited decision that he happens to disagree with in a high profile campaign finance case. For the first time in history, a U.S. President has openly disparaged a Supreme Court decision live, and in front of much of the entire world. Even Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor who actually dissented in the decision clearly appeared to be revulsed by the shameless attack.
Unfortunately this isn’t the first “first” of Mr. Obama’s Presidency, and it is unlikely to be the last. But as damaging as his policies have been for our country, the most atrocious “first” of all is the way he has completely trashed the sense of decorum and mutual respect that used to be exhibited in formal speeches regarding the other two branches of our government.
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