Crossroads
January 28, 2010 12:55 AM

Alito Winces as Obama Slams Supreme Court Ruling

By
Jan Crawford
Topics
Crossroads
(CBS/ AP)
President Obama took the extraordinary step in Wednesday's State of the Union address of slamming the Supreme Court for last week's decision striking down limits on corporate spending on political advertisements, ruling that the Court had "opened the floodgates" to special interests and foreign corporations in elections.

And it appears that one of the Justices in the audience didn't agree.

As Obama spoke, Justice Samuel Alito shook his head and appears to mouth the words, "not true."

Pretty amazing--both for Obama and for Alito.

Obama's frontal assault on the Supreme Court in a State of the Union is almost unheard of for a President. Typically, Presidents who get bad Supreme Court rulings (and they've all gotten their share) grimace and bear it, taking the position that the "court has spoken." I don't ever remember a Democratic president, in a State of the Union address, take on the Supreme Court for a recent decision and dare Congress to overturn it.

Special Report: Obama's 2010 State of the Union

But in his speech, Obama was in your face--blasting the Court and urging Congress to undo the decision. Six justices sat in the audience, including Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the decision.

The justices at first appeared inscrutable as Obama spoke and Democrats cheered. That's how they are. They don't stand when others do. They don't applaud. They just sit there and listen. It's why some of the justices just won't go to these speeches, which really are like political theater.

But tonight, we saw something different. As Obama was saying the decision will "open the floodgates" of spending for corporations and foreign companies and other special interests, it appeared it all was too much for Justice Alito to take.


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Alito was in the majority that struck down limits on corporate and union spending as violating the First Amendment, and took issue with Obama's characterization. When Obama predicted how the decision would basically ruin the political process, Alito started shaking his head. And that's when he seemed to mouth the words, "not true."

For a night that is the essence of staged theater, this year's State of the Union actually delivered something real. Surprise. There was the fiery attack on the Court from the cool intellectual President, and the subdued defense from the reserved and mild-mannered Justice.

Obama Vows to Fight for Jobs
Full Video of Obama's State of the Union
Full Text of Obama's Speech
Photos: The State of the Union
Poll Questions: You Vote on Obama's Plans
Full Coverage: Obama's 2010 State of the Union



Add a Comment See all 401 Comments
by RobAla January 31, 2010 8:29 AM EST
I believe a Justice of the Supreme Court knows more about one his own ruling that a President. The President was wrong. The court ruling specifically prevented foreign campaign funding. President Obama should check the facts before publicly misleading the American citizens in this manner. This is similar to the Joe Wilson outburst of "You lie." Except in that case, Wilson showed disrespect to the President. However, it seems that the President went out of his way to mislead the public that time. Wilson was right in that respect. At the time, there was nothing in the health care bill that prevented coverage of illegal aliens. Either the President shows little wisdom in shooting his mouth off without knowing the fact, or he is corruptly and intentionally attempting to mislead the American people for political purposes. At this point, I am beginning to think the latter.
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by noloyalisti January 30, 2010 9:25 PM EST
The Republicans have no plans for anything except to help the big corporations and the rich. At least the Democrats have some sense and some brains. We the People must tweak them to take the country back from the big corporations who are the real enemy.

So it is time for the CONS to wise up and unite with us against their elected reps who are COMPLETELY pwned by their corporate masters.
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by cidaia February 2, 2010 8:33 PM EST
I can't wait to see the Democrats show their sense, their brains.

They've been in office a year now. When does it start?

WAITING FOR ACTION......
by Joe Sortais January 30, 2010 7:49 PM EST
Corporations are not individuals. The Republican dominated Supreme Court is turning logic on it's head. Remember Bush vs. Gore?
Joe Sortais
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by mimi5952 January 30, 2010 6:24 PM EST
The justices followed the Constitution...no more no less. I am thankful for what they did because our elected leaders are moving away from our Constitution and that is very dangerous for all of us.
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by starleo146 January 30, 2010 4:05 PM EST
I was riding passed "Lincoln Financial" and I said stop want to ask 'It' How is business, once again no reply. I have yet to hear a corporation speak back to me. What do they mean the magic 5, we can not stop freedom of speech.LOL
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by bantamei January 30, 2010 3:37 PM EST
When the right wingers on the Supreme Court appointed G.W. Bush as president, it lost all credibility.
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by starleo146 January 30, 2010 4:18 PM EST
They lost credibility with me in the year 2000. Remember they elected George Bush and Darth Vader.What about 'we the people rights' where does that fall in the Supreme Court? Guarantee we are not even considered in any of their ruling's. This last ruling here, was a doosey.Shows there leanings totally and as long as 5 republicans rule this court it will not be their last stupid ruling . My only hope is Congress gets on this immediately before Nov. or Big business will name there cohorts for sure.Watch the republicans in the Senate stall and stall that bill till Nov. election.Everyone seems to be blaming the democrats and in some way they have been slow to things but at least they are trying to get it done, between the supreme court, right wingers, tea party gang, and Fauxc Nooz, I wonder if we can get anything done this year.
by the74blaster January 30, 2010 6:26 PM EST
I love how the Supreme Court is more concerned about giving corporations freedom of speech than addressing the problems of corruption in the halls of congress.

Why should we give tax breaks and freedom of speech to companies who show their true patriotic intentions by shipping jobs offshore at first opportunity?

If they want the right to run commercials for political purposes, then they should be AMERICAN corporations that EVERY employee is an AMERICAN citizen. The same should hold true for any corporate tax breaks!

Get the picture?
by bantamei January 30, 2010 3:35 PM EST
Because of the right wingers on the Supreme Court, foreigners and foreign companies can now have a say in our elections. Haven't conservatives done enough damage to this country. The average American will have vritually no say in our elections. Thank you Fourth Reich.
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by maistir January 30, 2010 12:10 PM EST
Those who cannot tell Justice Alito from Justice Scalia and cannot tell an individual or "natural person" from a "legal" or "juristic" person should not be lecturing other people about the law. You simply are not careful enough; your posts are filled with basic mistakes -- stick to arguments in the barroom.
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by stryker54 January 30, 2010 12:23 AM EST
what I find is amazing is Obama can have mickey and minney mouse contribute to his campaign and who knows how many other fictious people or foriegn intrest over the net, yet this he doesn't like. I would suppose it would give him competiton on his next election. He might as well give that up now, no way in Gods green earth will this snake be elected again. If he did, I would think the american people have become stupid.
The corps are not contributing to campaigns, just exercising the right to free speech. And to all you that hate big corps, they crash and you would be in the soup lines. Who do you think puts people to work? And many of these companies are as american as apple pie. You fing liberals just want to kill a great country and have the govt support you. Get off your lazy duffs and create opportunity, or do what you have been doing, get a job. JUST OVER BROKE. and if you don't understand that it is JOB. read the intials.
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by soundloud January 30, 2010 6:49 PM EST
I do not find any logic in your comment. Cant you understand a simple fact that corporations are not people to exercise that free speech like you and me. Judges made a way to their favorites to capitalize on this without realizing they destroyed the democracy in the process. We have lost your right in the process of electing your desired candidate. You still have not understood what it is, let me reiterate, the corporation can contribute in millions of dollars, no limit to the campaign, and the judges allowed it on the basis of free speech. You know how much money is going to flow into this, by corporations and they are going to make sure that they elect who they want.
Strip all your party affiliations for a moment and think clearly for sometime about the effect of this decision to the future of this country. Candidates who does not have campaign fund, will take it from a corporation and represent its interests, instead of yours and mine for what we elected for. Insurance companies spent 1.5 million dollars a day to stop health care. I mean they massive amount of money to spend to kill anything they like, if allowed.
by starleo146 January 29, 2010 10:08 PM EST
by independentmoderate January 29, 2010 9:41 PM EST
The Supreme Court has supplied Wall Street with a new gimmick...and "you gotta have a gimmick." Now you must PAY FOR "free" speech. There is no way that the word free should be twisted, as it has been in this and previous rulings, to provide that all citiznes must now PAY FOR advertising and propaganda to advertise a position or a politician for election. Conflict of interest also enters in, but has been ignored by this court. Free speech must be that...free....not something you have to pay for! It must happen without millions of dollars dirting its resume. This court has not only twisted and misused the term "free" ...but now makes us PAY FOR FREE SPEECH IN ORDER TO HAVE IT. What kind of country has this become???? CHANGE IT.

LOVED THIS
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