The confirmation process of Ms. Amy Coney Barrett is a sham in many ways. Since the outcome is a foregone conclusion, it has ceased to be an educational process on her judicial philosophy (though she will hold so much of our fate in her hands).
The questioners make political speeches, and the candidate herself finds clever ways to say nothing, so as not to incur the wrath of her mentor, President Donald Trump.
When asked a non-political, non-controversial question, Barrett should have jumped at the chance to finally give an actual answer — but she didn’t. She gave a mealy-mouthed non-answer about whether climate change is happening. Science says that it is, and visible proof abounds. But yet, she replied that “it is a very contentious matter of public debate.”
In any other realm, this would disqualify her for nomination to any court, much less the Supreme Court. It was heartening to hear the she believes that the coronavirus is infectious and smoking causes cancer.
Does she think that antibiotics cure infections, or is that a matter of “public debate” as well?
Some Republicans deny climate science because their backers are in the fossil fuel industry. Trump makes light of COVID-19 because it hurts his re-election chances, but that doesn’t change the facts.
I would expect a candidate for the Supreme Court to be a person with the intelligence and reasoning ability to base decisions on facts. Ms. Barrett is not such a person. She should not be on the court.
Carol Kraines, Deerfield
SEND LETTERS TO: letters@suntimes.com. Please include your neighborhood or hometown and a phone number for verification purposes. Letters should be 350 words or less.
Eddie Johnson investigation
Mayor Lori Lightfoot owes an apology to the people of Chicago for her handling of this farce of an investigation regarding former Police Supt. Eddie Johnson, as well as to Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, whose full police powers should be restored.
Catanzara is the only one who is actually following the mayor’s own police accountability recommendations by reporting misconduct at the highest levels. Catanzara was stripped of his police powers more than two years ago after filing a police report against Johnson. The then-superintendent had marched on the Dan Ryan Expressway during an anti-violence protest.
There should be a prompt resolution of Catanzara’s disciplinary investigation. Public confidence will never be restored so long as Lightfoot leaves a double standard in place.
David L. Milligan, Portage Park
