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Justice Samuel Alito Implicated in Leaking Hobby Lobby Decision to Conservative Activists
Tainted Right Wing Supreme Court is Hopelessly Corrupt and Consumed by Conflicts of Interest
The United States appears to have two different Supreme Courts operating under the same ornate, marble roof. One has sworn fealty to a radical movement and the Bible, while the other has pledged allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and America. The conservative justices who have clandestinely, and sometimes publicly, bastardized and belittled the Supreme Court should immediately resign in shame and infamy. They have brazenly abused their positions of trust, lowered the court’s moral authority and turned our justice system into a partisan tool in an unholy effort to force Americans under the sway of their preferred churches. Their rulings increasingly seem like deliberate political acts from vengeful partisan hacks.
I don’t speak these words lightly and truly miss the days when we could trust in the institution of the Supreme Court. But the latest influence peddling scandal, among conservative justices, leaves no room for doubt that the High Court has reached a new low point. A whistleblower revealed to the New York Times that right wing Justice, Samuel Alito, prematurely revealed the outcome of the Hobby Lobby decision to a right-wing mega-donor—weeks in advance—with deep ties to the anti-abortion movement.
In the controversial Hobby Lobby case, the court ruled 5-4, that requiring family-owned corporations to pay for insurance covering contraception violated their religious liberties. The New York Times reports that the “decision would have major implications for birth control access, President Barack Obama’s new health care law and corporations’ ability to claim religious rights.”
How did this happen?
On June 3, 2014, Ohio conservative mega-donors, Gayle and Donald Wright dined privately with Justice Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann. The following day, Gayle Wright contacted anti-abortion activist Rev. Rob Schenck, who led the nonprofit, Faith and Action. In an email-obtained by the Times, she wrote, “Rob, if you want some interesting news please call. No emails.”
According to Schenck, who now disavows his former right-wing views on abortion, Gayle Wright told him that Hobby Lobby would win its case and that Justice Alito had written the majority opinion. Additionally, the Wright family obtained prime seats at the Supreme Court to watch the Hobby Lobby decision in person.
“We were invited to use seats from Nino and Sam,” she had written to Schenck days earlier, using nicknames for Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito. “Wow!”
Schenk explains why he is coming forward now: “What we did, was wrong…You can position yourself in a special category with regard to the Justices. You can gain access, have conversations, share prayer.”
In fact, Schenk’s organization crafted a cunning scheme in 2000 to procure influence with conservative Supreme Court Justices. He would recruit wealthy, high society conservative donors to cozy up to tainted justices like Alito, Scalia and Clarence Thomas. He dubbed his team the “Ministry of Emboldenment” and the dubious project “Operation Higher Court.” According to the Times:
Mr. Schenck recruited wealthy donors like Mrs. Wright and her husband, Donald, encouraging them to invite some of the justices to meals, to their vacation homes or to private clubs. He advised allies to contribute money to the Supreme Court Historical Society and then mingle with justices at its functions. He ingratiated himself with court officials who could help give him access, records show.
With such unscrupulous judges, clinging to right wing agendas, the effort was easier than expected. The Times reports:
He [Schenck] gained access through faith, through favors traded with gatekeepers and through wealthy donors to his organization, abortion opponents whom he called “stealth missionaries.”
Wright often hunted with Justice Scalia, according to the businessman’s obituary, and the couple socialized with the Alitos, Scalias and Thomases. They hosted the Alitos at their retreat near Jackson Hole, Wyo., and the Alitos had the Wrights for dinner at their home in Alexandria, Va.
Mr. Schenck said he visited Justices Scalia and Thomas in chambers, where he shaped his prayers as political messaging, using phrases like “the sanctity of human life” to plea for an end to abortion. (Peggy Nienaber, who worked with Mr. Schenck, was recently recorded saying that the group had prayed with justices at the court.)
Is this the High Court or the Handmaid’s Tale? What’s going on here?
Seeking to go public with the truth, Schenck sent a letter regarding his being tipped-off on the 2014 Hobby Lobby decision to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. So far, Roberts has failed to respond. This is instructive, because Robert’s Court is currently investigating the early leak of the draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Both opinions, favoring the extreme right, were written by Justice Samuel Alito.
Although caught in what appears to be a bald-faced lie, Alito says he played no role in either leak, while the preponderance of the evidence says otherwise.
It seems that Alito’s egotistical desire to be conservative folk hero and movement leader, has created a situation where his loose lips could sink the Supreme Court’s ship. Or, at the very least, further erode trust in the Supreme Court. This latest scandal comes on the heels of Justice Clarence Thomas refusing to recuse himself from Jan. 6 related cases, even as his “treason wife” Ginni, peddled the Big Lie conspiracy and labored intensely to overthrow democracy.
Democrats should vow to never again vote for a member of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization, that apparently grooms lawyers and judges who are devoid of integrity and often don’t seem to have allegiance to the U.S. Constitution.
At this point, expanding the court must be an option too. The current crop of conservatives is simply too corrupt, too unethical and too consumed by repulsive conflicts of interest to continue holding the reins of such enormous power. They have soiled the Supreme Court’s role as a fair arbiter of justice. The only balm for this catastrophe is the implicated Justices stepping down. But we all know they lack the morality and professionalism to put country before pet conservative causes.
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It’s Bigger than Beer: Qatar’s Shabby Treatment of Soccer Fans and Workers is Disgraceful
Soccer Fans Shouldn’t Have to Adhere to Qatar’s Beliefs
Liberals in the West recoil at the idea of Christian Nationalism and theocracy as a form of government. Much of our activism is staunchly opposing zealots who want to impose their religious beliefs, oppress minorities and enshrine their faith into law. However, in the name of progressivism, we too often blindly accept the idea of a “Muslim World”.
We’d never accept the idea of a Christian World. The idea of a Jewish World or a Hindu World is anathema to our core values. Sure, there are societies where majorities choose to follow these religions, and there is nothing wrong with that. But the contemporary, ultraconservative Muslim World is impossible without extraordinary social control and repression. This terminology promotes the false assumption that everyone within the borders of a given country wants the government to choose their faith. If given options, however, people in all nations would choose a variety of different religious beliefs or no faith at all.
When progressives in the West fail to criticize Muslim nations that practice theocracy, gender apartheid, vast censorship and surveillance, religious tyranny, horrors perpetrated against LGBTQ people and authoritarian governance – they are not showing cultural sensitivity. Instead, they are unintentionally offering cover to fundamentalist regimes who are stifling the dreams and yearnings of their own citizens.
The Arab Spring protests and the brave citizens of Iran, who are now standing up to their Medieval Mullahs, shows the human spirit’s unquenching desire for liberty. It is our responsibility as liberals to support freedom movements worldwide. We must never fall for the well-worn trick of tyrants, where they conflate domination and degradation with culture or religion to which we must meekly bow.
The global clash between religious freedom and fascism is playing out in Qatar, which is hosting the World Cup soccer tournament. Twelve years ago, the wealthy Middle Eastern country bribed officials at the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) to “win” the 2022 games. In securing the bid, Qatar promised to protect LGBTQ fans, respect migrant workers and allow Budweiser to sell beer at soccer stadiums. The results have been disastrous, and the fallout is occurring on the international stage.
The conservative Islamic Kingdom has reneged on their promise and unilaterally banned the sale of beer at soccer games, even though Budweiser spent $75 million for a sponsorship. Last time I checked the hundreds of thousands of soccer fans streaming into Qatar didn’t convert to a conservative form of Islam. Qatar has a hell of a lot of nerve forcing fans to obey the rules of mosques they do not belong to. Sure, it’s their country, but they mislead FIFA and soccer fans in order to host the games. Had they initially promised to ban beer – the games would not be here.
If Qatar can’t respect the beliefs and consciences of other people, the nation isn’t mature enough to host international events. The decision is also an insult to their citizens – suggesting that the mere presence of a few temporary beer tents will magically transform a dry country into a nation of drunkards. Surely, the citizens of Qatar and its royal family can withstand the great allure of “The King of Beers” for a few weeks. Although, a cold brew in the scorching desert is rather tempting.
In a failed effort at damage control, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, offered a ridiculous, embarrassing defense of Qatar.
“I think personally, if for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive,” Infantino flippantly said.
The point isn’t survival, but pleasure. Fans spent large sums of money to enjoy the World Cup, and historically, drinking booze with friends is part of the fun. It’s up to each individual to shape their World Cup experience, without an oppressive Nanny State making decisions for them. One can also survive a Grateful Dead concert without marijuana, but it’s not advisable. It’s about the freedom to maximize the moment, without being told what to do. The solution is simple: If Qatari citizens believe beer is sinful, don’t drink it. End of story.
Qatari leaders are trying to spin the justifiable critiques as racism, rather than a reaction to their radicalism. Infantino leaned into this false narrative by invoking history.
“I think for what we Europeans have been doing around the world for the last 3,000 years, we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years, before starting to give moral lessons,” Infantino said.
Yes, it’s true that the Europeans were quite horrible and exploited or destroyed civilizations across the globe. If they want to apologize at the World Cup, I’m okay with that. However, the question of historical apologies, in no way justifies Infantino shamefully serving as an apologist for Qatar’s intolerant actions and human rights abuses.
To make the World Cup a reality, Qatar brought in migrant workers to build infrastructure from some of earth’s poorest nations. They horribly exploited these helpless workers, which included intense labor with long shifts in the desert heat. The New York Times reports that, “thousands of workers have died in that period” [of building], from heat exhaustion, kidney failure and heart attacks.
In a truly outrageous comparison, Infantino compared his own life as a redheaded child of immigrants in Switzerland to the harsh treatment of gays in the Middle East. Perhaps, I’ve overlooked the news stories, but I can’t recall the last time I saw a ginger swinging from a rope in Geneva or watched a red head pushed off the Matterhorn summit for merely existing. Those are the types of barbaric punishments LGBTQ people still endure in parts of Africa and the Middle East.
FIFA should never have brought the World Cup to an unevolved country with no respect for other cultures, religions or human rights. Qatar “won” the games with illegal bribes, but the real criminal activity is occurring now with the shabby treatment of soccer guests and abuse of migrants.
Liberals should assertively and proudly defend our values and no longer give a pass to countries that treat minorities like subhumans and invoke religious supremacy to dominate those who don’t share their beliefs. We don’t tolerate such unacceptable behavior from our Religious Right at home, nor should we bury our heads in the desert sand when it occurs in countries like Qatar.
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Equality Florida’s Nadine Smith: Why Florida Went Red, LGBTQ Issues and the Ron DeSantis Threat
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