American Values - Gary L. Bauer, President

Press Release Article

Gary Bauer: 'Return Balance to the Balance of Powers'

07/01/2005

WASHINGTON, July 1 /U.S Newswire/ -- Gary L. Bauer, president of American Values made the following statement following the announced retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "I thank Justice Sandra Day O'Connor for her service, and I wish her well."

The president of American Values continued: "We are now on the verge of a new era for the Court. It is inevitable that this confirmation battle will revolve around values. The administration should not be afraid of such a debate. They should fully make clear that while they did not ask their nominees about specific controversies, they did pick someone with the philosophy that makes them confident that their nominee has no problem with "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance, with the Ten Commandments on courthouse lawns, and understands that marriage is between a man and a woman. This is a time for us to reflect on the noble purposes of our highest court, which was to serve as a reliable standard bearer of our Constitution. It's purpose was not to make the law twist and turn to suit the changing tastes of foreign opinion, but to maintain the ideals that formed the heart of this great nation.

"As chairman of Citizens to Confirm Clarence Thomas I witnessed first hand the kind of vicious character assassination that has come to be the hallmark of our judicial confirmation process. It does not have to be that way, but the fear of that kind of event must not prevent the president from nominating someone who believes the Constitution means what it says. The temptations to read between the lines, to pander to the whims of political correctness has led to bad law and confusion. We need a justice committed to interpreting the Constitution that our Founding Fathers left us.

"The sense among ordinary Americans is that the courts, and especially the Supreme Court in the wake of Kelo and McCreary, are out of balance and unreflective of the ideals and concerns of most citizens. It's time to restore balance to the balance of powers in this next nomination."