Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr. worked behind the scenes for gay rights activists, and his legal expertise helped them persuade the Supreme Court to issue a landmark 1996 ruling protecting people from discrimination because of their sexual orientation.
Then a lawyer specializing in appellate work, the conservative Roberts helped represent the gay rights activists as part of his law firm's pro bono work. He did not write the legal briefs or argue the case before the high court, but he was instrumental in reviewing filings and preparing oral arguments, according to several lawyers intimately involved in the case.
Gay rights activists at the time described the court's 6-3 ruling as the movement's most important legal victory. The dissenting justices were those to whom Roberts is frequently likened for their conservative ideology: Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.
From the perspective of Bush's religious base, their are at least two unpardonable sins. Cardinal sin number one: defending Roe v. Wade. Cardinal sin number two: defending homosexuality.This is interesting for two reasons. First, Roberts is Catholic and should know the morality of homosexuality. Secondly, I want him to side with the conservatice justices not against them. Strike one Roberts.
Fortunately for Bush, his base moves with the speed of teutonic plates. Focus on the Family, one of the leading groups of Bush's moral base, has yet to hop on this story. When and if they do, Bush could be in a sizeable pickle.
Even as I write this though, I am struck by the absurdity of all of this. I guess I missed the part where becoming a Christian meant you never got to think anymore. The religious folks take their orders like the good obedient soldiers they are.
Bush is going to get away with this like he always does. If Roberts does turn out to be a wimpy moderate, we'll all give him the benefit of the doubt. It's funny really, that seven out of nine of the justices have been nominated by republican presidents. Look what we get.
I hope someone gives the marching orders not to vote for the republicans next time around.
4 comments:
gay rights make sense for a conservative because civil rights are civil rights. just because the republicans have aligned themselves with the christians doesn't mean that defending civil rights isn't a conservative thing to do. civil rights mean equal rights for everyone.
i would feel more comfortable with him in the suppreme court because this shows he isn't tied to the party ticket, and maybe he can actually do whats right.
also, it doesn't matter what the public thinks of the bush administration now that he isn't running for reelection anymore. of course he could do alot to hurt the republican chances for the next election, but whatever.
And, constitutinonally, we're all created equal. I don't remember the Constitution mentioning homosexuality - or God, for that matter. Do you?
Wiser man, let me see if I understand you: you're mad at Roberts for not being a slave to his Catholic overlord (that is, the Pope) or his Republican one (that is Bush) and yet, the problem with Christians today is that they aren't independent-minded enough. You seem to be saying that freedom is OK as long as people follow narrow religious teaching.
Religion is, at bottom, a way to control people. It seems to be doing it's job swimmingly, don't you think?
Religion is a moral guide, Loyal. It is not up to the Pope--or to Dr. Dobson of Focus on the Family--to tell conservatives when to get mad.
I guess, at heart, I just don't understand the religious right, even though I may be aligned with them on some issues. If abortion and gay rights are such a big deal, then why don't they hold the republicans to it?
Part of the Catholic faith is you obey the magisterium of the Church. The Church has spoken on gay marriage, and it's answer is quite clear. Why belong to a religion if you don't care for its precepts?
As for your point Tyler, there are two issues as play. First, as High and Dry pointed out, Roberts's job is to interpret the constitution. Last I checked, the constitution is silent on gay rights, but it was silent on abortion too.
The other issue, is that while civil rights are a conservative issue, so is heterosexual marriage. It is the duty of the state to revere marriage, to "promote the general welfare" if you will in order to ensure our nation's children grow up in the best environment possible.
Also, High and Dry, it says that we derive our rights from our (GASP) Creator. Keep this one on the downlow. We wouldn't want people to know that we're created free by God and that is not the government or the high court that allows us to be free.
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