Video: The candidates position on potential Supreme Court Nominees
We must vote today!
We are not voting for just the President of the United States. We are voting for The Supreme Court!
Today we have the rare opportunity to affect the delicate balance of our judicial system here in America! How you ask? Let me explain:
The Supreme Court has a special role to play in the United States system of government. The Constitution gives it the power to check, if necessary, the actions of the President and Congress. It can tell a President that his/her actions are not allowed by the Constitution. It can tell Congress that a law it passed violated the U.S. Constitution and is, therefore, no longer a law. It can also tell the government of a state that one of its laws breaks a rule in the Constitution. The Supreme Court is the final judge in all cases involving laws of Congress, and the highest law of all — the Constitution.
We all know the US Supreme Court is made up of 9 justices. These 9 individuals once seated, are the final decision makers for any future laws for the rest of their lives. Their decisions are a direct expression of their views, opinions, and interpretations.
For example, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Holding: Political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, and the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections.Jan 21, 2010. This law opened the flood gates to allow the corporate corruption of politics specifically federal elections. (here is a great article by the New York Times that breaks down Citizens United. How Much Has Citizens United Changed the Political Game?)
How are Supreme Court Justices appointed?
The appointment and confirmation of Justices to the Supreme Court of the United States involves several steps set forth by the United States Constitution, which have been further refined and developed by decades of tradition. Candidates are nominated by the President of the United States and must face a series of hearings in which both the nominee and other witnesses make statements and answer questions before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which can vote to send the nomination to the full United States Senate. Confirmation by the Senate allows the President to formally appoint the candidate to the court. (Remember Congress stating they will not let Obama select another Supreme Court justice the same day Justice Scalia died? Republicans already opposing any Obama Supreme Court nomination)
So still think your vote doesn’t matter? Hate both candidates all you want. But you must look at the bigger picture. It is so much more to this election than Donald and Hillary. The question we must ask ourselves is who’s view of justice do we want to live under for the rest of our lives? The candidate that exhibits misogynistic, racist, elitist behavior and has no political experience or the candidate that has 30 years experience in government policy, proven track record of advocating for children and the poor and who is smart enough to know we are at a crossroad in American History and all Americans need to be represented equally by the constitution.
integrityzone 