McCain Promises Judges Like Roberts, Alito

Presumptive GOP Nominee Castigates Obama For Voting Against Supreme Court Chief Justice

(AP)  Republican John McCain criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for voting against John Roberts as U.S. chief justice, reaching out to the Christian right on one of their chief concerns: the proper role of judges in government.

Conservatives contend that federal judges have upset the constitutional balance of power among the courts, the Congress and the presidency by making far-reaching decisions, such as one in 2005 that let cities seize people's homes to make way for shopping malls.

"My nominees will understand that there are clear limits to the scope of judicial power, and clear limits to the scope of federal power," McCain said Tuesday in a speech at Wake Forest University.

McCain, the eventual GOP nominee, promised to appoint judges in the mold of Roberts and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, saything they would interpret the law strictly to curb the scope of their rulings. While McCain didn't mention abortion, the far right understands that such nominees would be likely to limit or perhaps overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

Obama, on the other hand, voted against Roberts and Alito. So did Obama's rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, but McCain focused on Obama.

"Senator Obama in particular likes to talk up his background as a lecturer on law, and also as someone who can work across the aisle to get things done," McCain said. "But ... he went right along with the partisan crowd, and was among the 22 senators to vote against this highly qualified nominee."

"Apparently, nobody quite fits the bill except for an elite group of activist judges, lawyers, and law professors who think they know wisdom when they see it — and they see it only in each other," McCain said.

Obama's campaign responded that McCain would pick judges who represent a threat to abortion rights and to McCain's own campaign finance reform bill.

"Barack Obama has always believed that our courts should stand up for social and economic justice, and what's truly elitist is to appoint judges who will protect the powerful and leave ordinary Americans to fend for themselves," Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

The Arizona senator said his role models interpret the law strictly, paying attention to what lawmakers intended, as opposed to "activist" judges who, by striking down statutes or court decisions, make laws rather than interpret them. "Activist" is a term conservatives use pejoratively to criticize liberal justices.

Yet in the private property case McCain mentioned, the Supreme Court decided to defer to local officials rather than impose their own will from afar. Justice John Paul Stevens, in his majority opinion, wrote of the high court's "longstanding policy of deference to legislative judgments in this field."

McCain appeared confused about where he was for a moment Tuesday, saying, "I appreciate the hospitality of the students and faculty of West Virginia," then correcting himself to say Wake Forest as the audience laughed.

By speaking about judges, McCain offered an olive branch to the Christian right, which has been deeply suspicious of McCain.

He has clashed with its leaders and worked against them on issues like campaign finance reform. He also joined the "Gang of 14," a group of senators — seven Republicans and seven Democrats — who avoided a showdown over judges by agreeing to preserve the minority party's right to block President Bush's nominees with the filibuster.

Despite his rocky relations with the right, McCain's record on their top priorities — cultural issues like abortion — is very conservative.

While he did say once in 1999 that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned, that amounted to a blip in an otherwise unbroken record of opposing abortion rights for women. McCain has repeatedly voted against federal funding for abortion and has opposed federal Medicaid funds for abortion even in cases of rape or incest.

[sleepyric]

this is actually funny in that most of those judges will outlive this old white haired ***!,,that is, if people are stupid enough to elect him..

[veteran72]

McBushcain running on a platform of even more asssanine ideas than Shrub and Darth.
He should get at least 23% of the vote.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahaha,...man,
.....what a maroon.....

[irliberal]

McCain''s making promises he can''t keep. It''s hard to appoint judges when you''re retired and living off your wife''s money.

[tbweb]

There was no need for Sen. McCain to disclose this, he is already the Republican nominee. All this does is provide unnecessary ammo for the Dems.

[Razzl]

And this is precisely the reason, friends, why those of us who support Obama and those of us who support Clinton need to stop whining about voting for McCain or nobody if we don''t get our nominee: McCain and the Republicans are about stacking the Supreme court with anti-abortion, pro-gun, pro-police state nominees. There is simply no question of not voting for the Democrat here, so stop whining and prepare to do your duty for your country...

[merlgrey]

so basically john is promising to further the trend that the will and power of the government will continue steamrolling over the will and power of the people.

[clestes-2009]

Fossil John has got to be the most STUPID presidential candidate in modern history. 80% of the country thinks we are on the wrong path, the ONLY people that this appeals to are the 15% of the far right.

Go ahead, you moron. Everytime you open your mouth something so dam stupid comes out that you have ZERO chance of being elected.

[missingamerica]

More judges like Scalia? The Scalia who had this conversation with Leslie Stahl (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/24/60minutes/main4040290_page4.shtml):

Stahle: "If someone''s in custody, as in Abu Ghraib, and they are brutalized by a law enforcement person, if you listen to the expression ''cruel and unusual punishment,'' doesn''t that apply?" Stahl asks.

"No, No," Scalia replies.

"Cruel and unusual punishment?" Stahl asks.

"To the contrary," Scalia says. "Has anybody ever referred to torture as punishment? I don''t think so."

"Well, I think if you are in custody, and you have a policeman who''s taken you into custody%u2026," Stahl says.

"And you say he''s punishing you?" Scalia asks.

"Sure," Stahl replies.

"What''s he punishing you for? You punish somebody%u2026," Scalia says.

"Well because he assumes you, one, either committed a crime%u2026or that you know something that he wants to know," Stahl says.

"It''s the latter. And when he''s hurting you in order to get information from you%u2026you don%u2019t say he''s punishing you. What%u2019s he punishing you for? He''s trying to extract%u2026," Scalia says.

"Because he thinks you are a terrorist and he''s going to beat the you-know-what out of you%u2026," Stahl replies.

"Anyway, that%u2019s my view," Scalia says. "And it happens to be correct."

lollll...good old anti-torture McCain...

[r9119111]

God Help Us.

[omega39-2009]

Oh absolutely, this country needs more business friendly judges that will occasionally throw a crumb to the social conservatives. It''s perfectly clear that business interests are woefully under represented in our government by and for the people.

[starleo146]

Do we need anything else to make sure this senator MC BUSH does not get elected, he loves Alito and Roberts, I can not believe this guy he will kill his own elect ability. If there was ever a mistake, it was to let these two into our justice system to poison it even further since the election of George Bush in 2000

[taddles-2009]

Great that''s all we need, more "strict constructionists" who are only strict constructionists when it fits their strict political agenda.

[godseyesore-2009]

Best reason yet to STOP McCain.

[eddynewhope]

Hahahaha - Perfect! Go Obama! No more right-wing, unbalanced supreme court.

[taddles-2009]

"so basically john is promising to further the trend that the will and power of the government will continue steamrolling over the will and power of the people.

Posted by merlgrey at 10:28 AM : May 06, 2008"


Correct.

We need more people who are thoughtful jurists not propaganda spewing morons like Scalia.

[clestes-2009]

nokoolaid,

yeah that thought crossed my mind too. It would be a real bloody fight that is sure to **** off the American people.

But I really don''t anticipate dino Mac has any chance at all. I know polls say he does, but it is way early to take any serious consideration from that. Once the dems make up their minds, all will change. dumbo is getting off pretty easy right now. Just wait until the full force of the dem party takes him on. He will be blown to hell. He has said so many stupid things and has all the wrong idea and has no hesitation about blabbing his mouth. I am sure the RNC wish he would just SHUT UP.

[culturechang]

He is just saying he will be another Bush. Screw that. I cant vote for him now....and I had planned to. These moral judges give the legislature too much moral authority over us.

[mjvw2]

it''s a shame when judges actually interpret the constitution as written

[lochlan-2009]

"McCain Promises Judges Like Roberts, Alito"

We know, McCain. Why do you think we are not voting for you?

[obamaslady]

That''s it McLame, continue the Bushco. cast of characters - no freedoms or rights left for the public! Gotta love that "straight talkin"!!!

[jn122736]

The issues McCain sponsored and/or opposed in the past, regardless of party lines, are what earned him the respect and reputation he has enjoyed until now.

I have always considered it a sign of intelligence for anyone, including politicians, to change their minds/opinions on any subject, as long as there were justifiable reasons for said changes.

However, during this campaign, McCain has made 180-degree changes, on so many issues, that it can ONLY be for political purposes.

I fear that McCain wants to be president so much (and he knows that, at his age, this is his last chance) that he will do/say anything to get elected, including sacrificing any and all personal character and integrity he ever had.

The selection-of-judge%u2019s issue may not actually be a switch in policy for him but it is a further promise of four more years of the Bush administration%u2019s policies.

Possibly, McCain spending five years as a Vietnam POW making him hate Asians may well explain his obsessive support for the Iraq fiasco and his %u201C%u201Dbomb bomb bomb Iran%u201D%u201D attitude.

[omega39-2009]

it''''s a shame when judges actually interpret the constitution as written

Posted by mjvw2

You mean like invoking the interstate commerce clause to overrule millions of voters in states that voted for medical marijuana laws?

[omega39-2009]

I fear that McCain wants to be president so much (and he knows that, at his age, this is his last chance) that he will do/say anything to get elected, including sacrificing any and all personal character and integrity he ever had.
Posted by jn122736

I guess him and Hillary do have a lot in common.

[mjvw2]

it''''''''s a shame when judges actually interpret the constitution as written

Posted by mjvw2

You mean like invoking the interstate commerce clause to overrule millions of voters in states that voted for medical marijuana laws?

Posted by omega39

My point is; if you want to change the constitution than do it. It is/was intended to be flexible, that''s why the framers included the ability to ammend it. Judges, by definition, interpret they don''t rewrite

[genesis15-2009]

I fear that McCain wants to be president so much (and he knows that, at his age, this is his last chance) that he will do/say anything to get elected, including sacrificing any and all personal character and integrity he ever had.
Posted by jn122736

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by omega39

You think that McCain is the first to do this? What he is doing is the American way in politics.

[mjvw2]

I fear that McCain wants to be president so much (and he knows that, at his age, this is his last chance) that he will do/say anything to get elected, including sacrificing any and all personal character and integrity he ever had.
Posted by jn122736

Substitute Obama or Hillary for McCain. Same applies for all

[republic1776]

McCain''s age does not matter.
John Kennedy was 46 do you think age was a factor with him?

[jn122736]

I fear that McCain wants to be president so much (and he knows that, at his age, this is his last chance) that he will do/say anything to get elected, including sacrificing any and all personal character and integrity he ever had.
Posted by jn122736

I guess him and Hillary do have a lot in common.
Posted by omega39 at 11:03 AM : May 06, 2008
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

omega39,
This article is about McClain.

While you may be right about Hillary, If you wanted to be completely honest about it, you would have included Obama.

[republic1776]

"it''''''''''''''''s a shame when judges actually interpret the constitution as written"

Imagine that we might have a Govement like Our Forefathers intended. The liberals trashed it out with a "living constitution".
The Politicians LOVE a "living constitution" it means more taxes and sticking there noses into every aspect of our life. Liberals must have came from monkeys!

[mjvw2]

Nancy_Naive - If you don''t like the rules change them. That''s the point. Don''t sit there and complain..do something.

[irliberal]

I bet McCain''s running mate is going to be Huckster or Romney. If McCain "mysteriously croaks" during his term guess what - someone the American people summarily rejected is now running the country. Yuck.

[parrot123-2009]

McCain has repeatedly voted against federal funding for abortion; he has opposed federal Medicaid funds for abortion even in cases of rape or incest.


How can any Repug agree with this *** ??? Even though most are just RINO''s - this is really very absurd and a bit Senile. Cheers!

[parrot123-2009]

The Politicians LOVE a "living constitution" it means more taxes and sticking there noses into every aspect of our life. Liberals must have came from monkeys!
Posted by Republic1776 at 11:18 AM : May 06, 2008

This is how you feel about your fellow Americans ??? You really should be ashamed of yourself - I know most other Repugs are. Cheers!

[republic1776]

"McCain has repeatedly voted against federal funding for abortion; he has opposed federal Medicaid funds for abortion even in cases of rape or incest. "

Good for him, he is NOT God!

[parrot123-2009]

More judges like Scalia? The Scalia who had this conversation with Leslie Stahl (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/
24/60minutes/main4040290_page4.shtml):


Stahle: "If someone''''s in custody, as in Abu Ghraib, and they are brutalized by a law enforcement person, if you listen to the expression ''''cruel and unusual punishment,'''' doesn''''t that apply?" Stahl asks.
"No, No," Scalia replies.
"Cruel and unusual punishment?" Stahl asks.
"To the contrary," Scalia says. "Has anybody ever referred to torture as punishment? I don''''t think so."
"Well, I think if you are in custody, and you have a policeman who''''s taken you into custody%u2026," Stahl says.
"And you say he''''s punishing you?" Scalia asks.
"Sure," Stahl replies.
"What''''s he punishing you for? You punish somebody%u2026," Scalia says.
"Well because he assumes you, one, either committed a crime%u2026or that you know something that he wants to know," Stahl says.
"It''''s the latter. And when he''''s hurting you in order to get information from you%u2026you don%u2019t say he''''s punishing you. What%u2019s he punishing you for? He''''s trying to extract%u2026," Scalia says.
"Because he thinks you are a terrorist and he''''s going to beat the you-know-what out of you%u2026," Stahl replies.
"Anyway, that%u2019s my view," Scalia says. "And it happens to be correct."

lollll...good old anti-torture McCain...
Posted by ibsteve2u at 10:35 AM : May 06, 2008

How do they live with themselves ??

[singingrick]

Ah yes, another reason not to vote for McBush.


lol!

[deacon20081]

If you want to see the US Constitution become as George Bush calls it "JUST A PIECE OF PAPER" Vote for McCain......George Bush was not elected he was "Installed" by Supreme Court decision. More of the same with MCCain? Kick the bums out.

[aldon61]

The John McCain of the year 2000 was a man that I supported. Back then, I was a moderate Republican and felt he was a breath of fresh air. He openly spurned the religious right and didn''t back down from his own beliefs. In short, I respected him and supported him. Today, I am still a moderate, but no longer consider mmyself a republican. The John McCain of today, has kissed the @ss of Jerry falwell, promised anything and everything to pander to the religious right. The strange thing is that the hard right still doesn''t like his candidacy anymore than I do. This election will give the winner the right to name up to 3 supreme court justices. The court is already tilting right, we cannot futher push the court in one direction, it must remain balanced. Reject John McCain for the future of our country.

[mudrose-2009]

How do they live with themselves ??

Posted by parrot123

Quite well I imagine. See they don''t moralize according to the Marxists/Socialists who opine. They follow the rule of law and in the Constitution there is no defintion of torture. Nor is there any defintion of terrorist either. And the 14th Amendment doesn''t apply. That''s why your buddies the ACLU want to close GITMO so these ****** of the world can be tried in our courts.

[mudrose-2009]

If you want to see the US Constitution become as George Bush calls it "JUST A PIECE OF PAPER" Vote for McCain......George Bush was not elected he was "Installed" by Supreme Court decision. More of the same with MCCain? Kick the bums out.

Posted by deacon20081

Yeah and that all happened before Alito and Roberts. So I guess Ginsberg thought it was the right decision. Ya know Ruth, now don''t you - she one of those activist judges who thinks the constitution walks and talks. Your kinda gal.

[tonyd_31]

Wow, McSame promising to appoint judges like Roberts and Alito. Is that supposed to mean something? Now I really like Obama as I didn''t know he voted against "Dubya''s" appointee. I wish the rest of the DEMs had the courage like Obama. He is right on target as far as I am concerned, voting against the Iraq War and now I find out he didn''t vote for Roberts to be the Chief Justice. McCain is a senile old man. Go Obama! (IN and NC don''t let us down today). Lets get ready for the General Election and send McSame and the rest of the GOP on a long vacation.

[mudrose-2009]

Trying to reverse Roe v Wade. No going to happen, abortion and OBGYN services will go underground... to dirty doctors and illicit services. Not any different then drugs or alcohol (during prohibition). Men have no business making decisions about women''''''''s bodies and vis-a-versa. The Republicons need to get out of peoples lives and stop telling them how to live -

Posted by zoe2006

I have news for you. See the States have rights too and seems to me that a lot of these States and putting into their State constitutions, abortion bans. Wise up.

[tonyd_31]

mudrose, it so funny to read your postings. And you have the nerve to talk about intelligence? You are one of the biggest idiots that post on this site. You sound like a crabby, bigoted redneck. I wish I knew you so I could slap some sense into your ***!

[jjp735i]

Nothing like pandering to the Republican Right, the neo-nazi''s of 21st century. One minute McCain does not support the right and now that he needs them he changes his tune. More like Bush everyday.

[lemonskink]

Well, with that remark McCain sealed his fate.

[singingrick]

McBush is just pandering to his Nazi base.

[tonyd_31]

I have news for you. See the States have rights too and seems to me that a lot of these States and putting into their State constitutions, abortion bans. Wise up. Posted by mudrose.

If you really believe that you fool, then you wouldn''t of had the pleasure of kissing "Dubya''s" *** because he ran to the Supreme Court and the conservative *** there subsequently "selected'' him after the Florida state Supreme Court ruled to keep counting the votes. You idiots are so hypocritical! You sir are a clown in the worst sense.

[mudrose-2009]

THANKS - Then the Repubs gave Katherine Harris the boot and didn''''t support her nomination in Florida. They used her... and George Bush was only elected as Governor and that is the only position he was ever elected to. He didn''''t win against Al Gore or Kerry both were contested and both had democratic ballots tossed out.

Posted by zoe2006

Yeah, and therefore the world according to zoe2006 states that the Bush Presidency was illegitimate because two clowns lost legitimately.

[tonyd_31]

mudrose, I bet you never said that to someone''s face. Be honest with yourself. You spew that trash from a distance as you know that you are a coward and would get your teeth kicked in if you had the courage to say it to ones face. You are funny muddy my man!

[blackshaft-2009]

I found this online and thought I would share this with you all!

Who will be the next president who will take the Declaration of Independence and tear it to shreds? Who will destroy any icon picture or symbol in the White house? Who will paint the White house black? So it can be known as the Black House throughout the world! Who will sign the GLOBAL POVERTY ACT costing American tax payers 845 Billion dollars, Billion, over the next six years? Which will help support a terrorist child today so he can grow up and love us to death tomorrow? Who cares nothing for the poor in America who are homeless! Who cares nothing for the uninsured in America! Who cares nothing for the starving in America by eventually signing the GLOBAL POVERTY ACT!

Vote Obama and Farahkhan
For President and Vice President Today!