Obama using 'code' for judicial activist, Hatch says

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | May 3, 2009 | Matt Canham

[FocusNexus]

Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch believes the president has used code words indicating he wants to appoint an activist to the Supreme Court, who will push a liberal agenda.

Hatch zeroed in on Obama's use of the word empathy in describing what he will look for in a new justice.

In announcing Souter's retirement on Friday, Obama said: "I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles, as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes."

Hatch said that statement translates into a partisan on the bench instead of an impartial arbitrator.

"He should appoint somebody who will basically obey the law and not put their own policy preferences into law," Hatch said. "That is what has bothered me about some of the comments the president has made."

[FocusNexus]

This should not be a surprise -- Obama said similar things during the campaign. He clearly pust political agenda above the Constitution.

[jersey117]

OK — And what are you are you going to do about it Hatch?

[Fast Moving Angel]

I don’t think there’s anything “code” about it.

[ken21]

where’s hatch been?

[trek]

Oh great, Orrin Hatch speaks.
I suppose he is going to stand up proudly and fight for Originalism the way he did during the Bader Ginsburg hearings.

[pillut48]

Translation: ‘activist’= extreme lefty Liberal anti-Christian, anti-Constitutional, anti-American democrat progressive!

HolyO’s probably over at Daily Kaos or the DUmp right now cruising for nominees!! Hey, I wonder if Markos or Pitt is busy?!?

/sarc

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

he wants to appoint an activist to the Supreme Court, who will push a liberal agenda

Ya think? Who knew? Proving once again that nothing gets by Hatch.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Obama wouldn’t use a litmus test. This is expressly against Democrat policy (as stated in the past, when Republican presidents were in office).

[EGPWS]

OK — And what are you are you going to do about it Hatch?

Let us know of his suspicions of it...

That'll put an end to this tyrannical and anti-Amrican political agenda of Obombas.

[fullchroma]

Code words? I’ve found Obama to be blatant in his plan to corrupt the Constitution and legal statutes with subjective (selective) morality.

[John123]

translates into a partisan on the bench instead of an impartial arbitrator

Tapping side of nose...

[9YearLurker]

Hey, better Hatch at least said it than that he didn’t.

If we don’t support our squishy Pubbies when they actually speak up, who will—and why will they ever speak up?

[FocusNexus]

Here is what he said in 2007 (Salon article from Nov 2008)

Ten picks for Obama's Supreme Court

Last year, Obama spoke before a Planned Parenthood conference about his judicial philosophy.

"We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom," Obama said. "The empathy to understand what it's like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old. And that's the criterion by which I'm going to be selecting my judges."

====

Note there is nothing about the Constitution, the Law and equality under the law/

[Frank_2001]

Agreed! It’s all about “feelings” with O....I’d prefer a judge who bases his rulings on the LAW and the CONSTITUTION!

[FocusNexus]

With the Dems having a filibuster-proof majority, there is nothing much the Republicans can do about it.

[Sundog]

You can be sure he ran this by Reid and Kennedy to make sure no offense would be taken.

[Secret Agent Man]

Hatch is setting himself up to be the guy who wins the biggest goodies by appearing to be the biggest roadblock, then will finally cave when he gets what he wants and will say at the end he’s voting for whoever because he’s convinced they aren’t partisan.

That’s all. Same ol’ Hatch.

[Sundog]

Wouldn’t this be a wonderful day for McCain to resurrect his gang of 14 to insure bipartisan cooperation was restored?

[FocusNexus]

“If we don’t support our squishy Pubbies when they actually speak up, who will—and why will they ever speak up?”

An excellent point — I was noticing that several posters on this thread were critical of Hatch, but not a word of outrage about Obama subverting the US Supreme Court and the Constitution. THIS is why the Dems are in power — many conservatives are more interested in attacking Republicans, than in defeatting Democrats. That’s why we have a Dem majority in Congress and a far leftist president, with all its consequences.

[HelloooClareece]

“We need somebody who’s got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it’s like to be a young teenage mom.”

When he says that he’s referring to girls considering abortion. He should also consider what it would have meant for him had his mother chosen that course. Had it been legal I have little doubt as to what that young “enlightened for her time” girl would have chosen.