Once upon a time, the U.S. Supreme Court was thought to be above politics. Justices were appointed for life and could not be fired on a whim, so were free to render decisions above the political fray, letting the chips fall where they may.
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But if we were not disabused of that fantasy by the Supreme Court intrusion into the 2000 Bush vs. Gore election in Florida, we owe a debt of thanks to Republican William Bennett, former secretary of education under Reagan. His guest column on Aug. 24 warned that if elected, Hillary Clinton’s Court picks would overturn and/or jeopardize everything the right wing holds dear — no matter how odious to the mainstream the court’s decisions have mostly been since Republican-appointed justices have held sway, starting in the Rehnquist years.
Thank you, Mr. Bennett, for disabusing us of our naivete, and for reminding voters how important it is to elect Hillary Clinton if we want fairer court decisions that don’t pander to the gun lobby, the religious right or the welfare of corporations over people.
Ted Z. Manuel, Hyde Park
Rauner wrong on ‘set-asides’
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s recent announcement that he’s going to increase minority set-asides for state contracts is discriminatory and racist. I voted for him because I thought he was against policies like this. First he gave in on the budget and now this. Talk about not following through.
Mike Mannard, Schaumburg
