Not-so-great Scalia
In a rush to elevate the late Justice Antonin Scalia to sainthood, the media and politicos ignore his many prejudices.
He lacked compassion in his stance that convicted criminals should be executed even if subsequent evidence proved their innocence. He said homosexual activity is as bad as murder or bestiality. He ruled that Native Americans must obey laws that violated their religious beliefs but exempted fellow Christians from observing many laws. He denied gays, lesbians and transgenders the human rights other Americans possess, and denied women the right to make sexual decisions.
As historians note, Scalia, the champion of states’ rights, ignored the Constitution in Bush vs. Gore and claimed federal supremacy over the state in the controversial 2000 election. He denied Florida the right to determine the ballot count and worried any recount would “put a cloud” over George W. Bush’s election.
The hefty fees he accepted for addressing hate groups underlined his rank partisanship. His most damaging decision was the Citizens United case where he ruled that “free speech” was promoted by unrestricted financial contributions from corporations and the wealthy. Every election since has underlined the importance of money in campaigns and winning offices.
No, Scalia will never earn the sainthood some claim for him.
Henry Everman
Richmond
This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 7:15 PM with the headline "Not-so-great Scalia."