Government

Scalia: Don’t Like Political Ads on TV? ‘Shut It Off’

Scalia: If You Dont Like Political Ads on TV, Shut It Off

AP

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has an easy fix for people who don‘t like the all the political ads seen in the wake of the court’s decision to end limits on corporate contributions in political campaigns: Turn off the TV.

(Related: Has This Primary Change Your Opinion on the Citizens United Ruling?)

Asked about the decision during a presentation in South Carolina Saturday with fellow justice Stephen Breyer, Scalia staunchly defended the ruling that’s become known as “Citizens United.” Saturday marked the two-year anniversary of the decision.

“I don’t care who is doing the speech — the more the merrier,” Scalia said, according to an Associated Press report. “People are not stupid. If they don’t like it, they’ll shut it off.”

Breyer didn’t directly criticize the narrow 5-4 ruling, which he and Scalia were on opposite sides of. But when a court decision isn’t unanimous, “somebody is making a mistake,” Breyer said.

“There are real problems when people want to spend lots of money on a candidate…they‘ll drown out the people who don’t have a lot of money,” Breyer said, summarizing the argument against the ruling.

But Scalia said the Supreme Court shouldn’t be blamed for corporate money in campaigns. According to the AP, he said the court simply decides whether the system is legal under the Constitution. He said it’s up to the politicians who created the system to change it — but that voters often reward candidates who spend the most money.

“If the system seems crazy to you, don’t blame it on the court,” Scalia said.

A wave of protesters descended on the Supreme Court Friday to mark the ruling’s anniversary in what was known as “Occupy the Courts.” Similar demonstrations broke out across the country, including in San Francisco, where protesters threw Bibles and bricks at police officers.

Comments (68)

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  • Brontefan
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:45pm

    We know it’s going to be down & dirty… and media no longer cares if the ads tell lies or the truth.

    Report Post »  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:43pm

    “Breyer didn’t directly criticize the narrow 5-4 ruling, which he and Scalia were on opposite sides of. But when a court decision isn’t unanimous, “somebody is making a mistake,” Breyer said.”

    Then we sure are living under a whole lot of mistakes. So, his point is what?

    Report Post »  
  • kblink45
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:25pm

    Proving again that Scalia and the other conservatives on the court are the last remaining bastions of reason in America.

    Report Post » kblink45  
    • georgiavietvet
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 10:31pm

      KBLINK45……………….yes and all it takes is one of the so called conservatives to have a weak liberal moment to really screw this country up. an example is the upcoming obama care supreme court case…………………………..

      Report Post »  
  • Ducky 1
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:09pm

    I cut the cable and I can better use my time praying for our country. I will vote and also inform others I know who to vote for and why to vote for them. Each individual can make a difference!!

    Report Post » Ducky 1  
  • cdcats8
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:50pm

    Don’t just talk and fuss and gripe and fault…..DO something to stop it all.

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:49pm

    it was all over church today: this November may be our LAST election in America. hasn’t obama already placed 2 of his communists and degenerates on the Supreme Court to corrupt it?.. but after November if that vile filthy animal is re-elected, he will have no further need of ANY of them.
    obama has already been telling us he plans to declare himself FUHRER, exactly as Hitler did. first, he will void the US Constitution, he HAS repeatedly as much as promised it. == and he already has that massive ”private army” who will answer only to him, that he had been calling for since 08: they are the Muslim Brotherhood, Communist Party and gays and illegals and SEIU and all the other big US labor unions — as well as all of his little mindless democrats and even a few unhinged godless US veterans now. how many foreign troops will he call in to help him put down the opposition in a civil war here?
    it is simple. an obamavoter stopped being an AMERICAN in 2008 when they voted for him the first time. good to remember when the obama civil war hits and we are forced to return fire as they march on his orders to starve, enslave, ghetto and kill us. we will not be fighting fellow AMERICANS, we will be fighting AMERICA’s ENEMY: obama and his Hitlerian “ private civilian army”.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • BillDixon
      Posted on January 23, 2012 at 5:07am

      People hate what Obama has done to this country. They want him out of office in the worst way. So can some one please explain this to me. Why is America hard at work when it comes to making sure he gets another four years? Now right up front you vote for who your want to but a vote for Newt, Santorum or Romney means that Obama keeps the White House. Why? Because they can not beat him with only the Republican vote. Bash Ron Paul if you like but to do that is crazy because it will get you four more of Obama. I will make this easy for every one. No candidate can beat Obama without the Ron Paul Supporters. There is only one candidate who can beat Obama and that is Ron Paul. So if you want to get rid of Obama why are you doing exactly what it takes to keep him in office which is bad mouthing the RP supporters and why would you vote against RP?

      Report Post »  
  • gordonknapp
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:45pm

    Supreme Court Judges should NOT have lifetime terms. How stupid! The public should have a chance to make them accountable by voting them in or out!! Lifetime terms makes them automatic millionaires and they protect the wealthy. How STUPID can we be?

    Report Post » gordonknapp  
    • justangry
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:17pm

      “At the establishment of our constitutions, the judiciary bodies were supposed to be the most helpless and harmless members of the government. Experience, however, soon showed in what way they were to become the most dangerous; that the insufficiency of the means provided for their removal gave them a freehold and irresponsibility in office; that their decisions, seeming to concern individual suitors only, pass silent and unheeded by the public at large; that these decisions, nevertheless, become law by precedent, sapping, by little and little, the foundations of the constitution, and working its change by construction, before any one has perceived that that invisible and helpless worm has been busily employed in consuming its substance. In truth, man is not made to be trusted for life, if secured against all liability to account.” Thomas Jefferson

      Report Post » justangry  
    • comsense08
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:37pm

      From what I see of liberal courts and judges they seem to punish the rich and really reward the less fortunate. Another thing the courts are not supposed to do. Apparently the blind fold is starting to slip on “blind justice”.

      Report Post »  
  • sonnyboy1
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:33pm

    I turned the TV off 19 years ago. Only have one to watch DVD’s.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:47pm

      You haven’t missed a thing Sonny.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • NEAF
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:30pm

    Who is this fat turd? Is he above the law?

    Report Post » NEAF  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:39pm

      Michael Moore

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • ollie42
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:44pm

      @neaf: Spoken like a true Obama koolaid drinker. If you truly don’t know who this man is you are a complete fool. Sorry I just call them like I see ‘em.

      Report Post »  
    • toomuchgovt
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:52pm

      Supreme Court Justice Scalia is a very good Judge. Get some education. Scalia is right it is not the court, it is the crazy Law the legislate wrote they are left to interpret.

      Maybe the court wouldn’t be so “divided” if politicians would appoint and select judges based on merit not on activism.

      Report Post » toomuchgovt  
    • justangry
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 8:10pm

      Originalist justices are needed. One of the reasons I’m so set on RP. I think he’d be the only president to appoint them.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:26pm

    I agree, Antonin! Way to speak the truth!

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:10pm

    If you decide on who to vote for based on TV ads…you shouldn’t be voting.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Saving_the_Republic.com
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:06pm

    Pray for Scalia and the other conservative leaning Justices at the Supreme Court. If we lose any of them with that marxist in the White House this nation is toast! Obama has demonstrated he will appoint anyone after putting the inexperienced Kagen in.

    Report Post » Saving_the_Republic.com  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:30pm

      He needed a lesbian on the court to please his gay supporters.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • 13th Imam
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 2:04pm

    From Another Blazer,

    This week both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union Address will occur on the same day
    This is an ironic juxtaposition of events.
    One involves a meaningless ritual in which we look at an insignificant creature of little intelligence for prognostication.
    The other involves a groundhog

    Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • barber2
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:52pm

    I’ve never forgotten that State of the Union address when President Obama scolded the Supreme Court, which sat polite and silent in front of the pointing finger/ nose -in- the -air -man who disrespected them in front of the nation. This divisive president has targeted the Supreme Court to receive the anger of his base because the president KNOWS that his legislation and executive over-reach will, no doubt, get a blow back from the Court. Obama has gone overboard to project the highest court in the land to be a bunch of the ” rich/ fat cat/ conservative/ capitalists” that he and his Marxist buddies want to overturn. The man does not seem to believe that we need to have 3 branches of government. He seems to prefer only one : the executive branch with Barack Obama in charge of everything. Gee, wonder what groups the president will target in this weeks State of the Union Campaign Speech. Oh, let me guess…

    Report Post »  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 5:18pm

      Lets See
      He’s Abused Big Pharma

      He’s abused Big Oil

      He’s abused Big Auto

      He’s abused Big Christians

      He’s abused Big Firearms

      He’s abused Big Actual Taxpayer

      Who is Barry’s next target??

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
  • rsanchez1
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:50pm

    Thank you for the voice of reason. The Court shouldn’t have activist judges. They shouldn’t be in the business of legislating. Just decide if something is constitutional, that’s it.

    And what a no-nonsense solution to all the whiners.

    Report Post »  
    • comsense08
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:46pm

      They have the right to refuse a hearing and they have the right to send a law back to the legislature if it cannot be judged by the constitution. Unfortunately, we haev had a few judges think they were more than the law allows and decided to make law through their decisions. Should have been stripped from the court that very minute. The house can start those proceedings, if anyone up there has a set.

      Report Post »  
  • garyM
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:46pm

    Unfortunately you can’t stop people from lying if you are gonna have freedom. Americans must learn how to use the wisdom of God again and how to recognize a lie and how to screen the sources of lies. Liars always have an agenda and that agenda is never connected to the truth, Jesus is full of grace and truth! You disconnect from Jesus or say Jesus and His Word is not relevant to anything, then it is plain what you to see that all you are gonna hear is a lies to promote an evil agenda! Sometimes they will fake you out with sayings like, “the truth lives here”

    Report Post »  
  • NewLife56
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:44pm

    He’s right, and I’m for anything that votes President Obama out

    Report Post » NewLife56  
    • garyM
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:48pm

      Evil is evil, regardless of which party! Mormonism is as far from the truth as Islam!

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:53pm

      GARY: still stuck on Mormon ??

      Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:41pm

    The Democrats do not want those “ evil nasty corporations” whom the Democrats say are not people to be able to kick in campaign funds , but you bet they sure want their Best People Friends, the unions, to be able to kick in those dues they highjack for Democrat candidates ! Transparency at its best from the Big Lie Party !

    Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:34pm

    What we need to do is eliminate the tax breaks for political contributions, sports programs, pro tickets. Taxpayers shouldn’t pay for companies/rich peoples attempts to influence politicians, or to entertain them.

    Report Post »  
    • islamhater
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:41pm

      No one should get a tax break..Are tax system is so corrupt… Totally unAmerican…

      Report Post »  
  • Phoneguy
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:30pm

    WOW he got it right! AMAZING

    Report Post » Phoneguy  
    • justangry
      Posted on January 22, 2012 at 3:23pm

      He usually does as far as I’m concerned. He’s one of the good ones.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:26pm

    Better yet, just get rid of tv all together.. I get all I need from my computer.. to exactly how corrupt the system is! God help us!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • lel2007
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:22pm

    “**** it off” sounds like sensible advise to me. Either that or pay for commercial free TV.

    Report Post » lel2007  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:19pm

    Now we have the3 choice between Obumers State of Me address and Mythbusters unlike the old days of three networks and their decisions as to what we need to see.

    Report Post » BlackCrow  
  • shagstar
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:05pm

    see? a little common sense can go a long way if applied properly! off/on or mute…simple!

    Report Post » shagstar  
  • lukerw
    Posted on January 22, 2012 at 1:01pm

    PERFECT… Freedom of Choice! BRAVO!

    Report Post » lukerw  
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