{"id":1923191,"date":"2023-05-03T02:26:12","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T06:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rather-than-smearing-justices-democrats-should-be-asking-them-for-ethics-lessons\/"},"modified":"2023-05-03T02:34:51","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T06:34:51","slug":"rather-than-smearing-justices-democrats-should-be-asking-them-for-ethics-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rather-than-smearing-justices-democrats-should-be-asking-them-for-ethics-lessons\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats should seek ethics lessons from justices instead of smearing them."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frather-than-smearing-justices-democrats-should-be-asking-them-for-ethics-lessons%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1923191&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Media and Democrats&#8217; Attack on the Supreme Court<\/h2>\n<p>The concerted effort by the media and Democrats to delegitimize the Supreme Court is the most consequential attack on our institutions in memory. <\/p>\n<h3>Supreme Court Ethics Reform Hearing<\/h3>\n<p>Make no mistake. Today\u2019s \u201cSupreme Court Ethics Reform\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/committee-activity\/hearings\/supreme-court-ethics-reform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hearing<\/a> is meant to discredit the high court and slander justices with innuendo. Nothing else. Democrats are angry because the court happens to occasionally uphold basic constitutional principles of American governance. Democrats are nervous that originalist justices are going to weaken the administrative state or hand power back to localities or protect religious liberty or gun rights.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-209807751\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The recent hit pieces on Justices\u00a0<strong>Clarence Thomas<\/strong> and <strong>Neil Gorsuch<\/strong> were shoddy and transparently partisan. They did not uncover any conflict of interest nor corruption. They exist to give politicians fodder and hackish outlets like The Washington Post the freedom to contend that the Senate is \u201cconsider[ing] strengthening ethics rules for the Supreme Court in response to a cascade of revelations about unreported lavish travel and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/revealed-hunter-biden-flew-to-moscow-to-meet-now-sanctioned-russian-oligarch\/\" title=\"Revealed: Hunter Biden Flew to Moscow to Meet Now-Sanctioned Russian Oligarch\u00a0\">real estate deals<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Most Post readers will, no doubt, be unaware that there has been no \u201cunreported\u201d lavish travel or real estate deals.<\/li>\n<li>There is one amended note in a financial disclosure by Thomas \u2014 who had no ethical or legal obligation to check in with Democrats whenever he travels.<\/li>\n<li>In Politico\u2019s Gorsuch hit, the reporter didn\u2019t even know how to read a basic disclosure form.<\/li>\n<li>Everything, including a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pressley-postpones-financial-disclosure-amid-questions-about-real-estate-dealings\/\" title=\"Pressley Postpones Financial Disclosure Amid Questions About Real Estate Dealings\">real estate deal<\/a> that Gorsuch was allegedly attempting to conceal, was reported.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The fact that the same histrionic coverage did not accompany Justice\u00a0Ketanji Brown Jackson\u2019s\u00a0<strong>amended<\/strong> financial disclosures in 2022 nor Justice\u00a0Sonia Sotomayor\u2019s\u00a0<strong>amended<\/strong> financial disclosures in 2021 nor Justice\u00a0Stephen Breyer\u2019s long-term <strong>travel<\/strong> arrangement.<\/p>\n<h2>Is the Judiciary Committee&#8217;s Attack on Originalist Justices Hypocritical?<\/h2>\n<p>The recent attacks on originalist justices by the Judiciary Committee, which were often reimbursed by the wealthy Pritzker family, is no accident. The committee chair, Dick Durbin, contends he merely wants the justices to abide by the ethics rules that Congress has drafted for itself. If they did, it would mean a complete degradation of standards in the court.<\/p>\n<h3>The Hypocrisy of the Judiciary Committee<\/h3>\n<p>Because while there has not been a scintilla of evidence offered by anyone that the originalist justices have altered their judicial philosophy or approach for personal benefit, one could not say that same thing about the leader of the delegitimization effort, Durbin, who, according to a 2014 Chicago Tribune investigation, used his office and power to help enrich his lobbyist wife:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Among the areas of overlap in the Durbins\u2019 careers: her firm getting a one-year contract with a housing nonprofit group around the time the senator went to bat for the organization and others like it; a state university receiving funds earmarked by Durbin when his wife was its lobbyist; and Durbin arranging federal money for a public health nonprofit when his wife was seeking state support for the same group.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Durbin did not pay a fine or face any repercussions for this conflict of interest. Then again, do you know how many officials the Senate Select Committee on Ethics has issued disciplinary sanctions to since 2007? Zero.<\/p>\n<h3>Examples of Judiciary Committee Members&#8217; Hypocrisy<\/h3>\n<p>Not Judiciary Committee member Dianne Feinstein, whose husband Richard Blum, an investment banker, made some <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/sanfrancisco\/news\/feinstein-faces-scrutiny-over-husbands-biotech-stock-transactions-amid-covid-19-market-freefall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">amazingly<\/a><\/em> prescient trades in the biotech sector during Covid-19.<\/p>\n<p>Not Judiciary Committee member Richard Blumenthal, D-<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcconnecticut.com\/news\/politics\/natl-contrary-to-his-claims-ag-blumenthal-never-served-in-vietnam-report\/1880706\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Stolen Valor<\/a>, and his wife, who happened to <a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/democrats\/blumenthal-bought-robinhood-shares-as-he-called-for-congress-to-investigate-gamestop-trading-frenzy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">trade<\/a> shares of Robinhood before calling for an investigation and then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ctinsider.com\/news\/article\/Blumenthal-on-stock-trades-report-Ridiculous-16911884.php#:~:text=I%20own%20no%20individual%20stock.,after%20an%20event%20in%20Guilford.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lie<\/a>, not surprisingly, about the family\u2019s significant stock ownership.<\/p>\n<p>Not Judiciary Committee member Sheldon Whitehouse, who not only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/story\/2017\/05\/14\/congress-stock-trading-conflict-of-interest-rules-238033\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">traded<\/a> health care stock through his and his family\u2019s accounts while pushing to pass a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rather-than-smearing-justices-democrats-should-be-asking-them-for-ethics-lessons\/\" title=\"Democrats should seek ethics lessons from justices instead of smearing them.\">medical bill directly related<\/a> to that sector but also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/sheldon-whitehouses-favors-11593645437\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">used<\/a> his seat to prop up a green energy concern that supported his campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Nor Judiciary Committee member Peter Welch, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/news\/dem-rep-sells-off-stock-purchased-amid-coronavirus-outbreak-after-being-confronted\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sold off<\/a> stock purchased amid the coronavirus outbreak after being confronted.<\/p>\n<p>It seems that the Judiciary Committee&#8217;s attack on originalist justices is hypocritical, given the unethical behavior of some of its own members.<\/p>\n<h2>Senator Durbin&#8217;s Hypocrisy and Attacks on the Supreme Court<\/h2>\n<p>Senator Dick Durbin has a history of engaging in unethical behavior and attacking the Supreme Court for political gain. Recently, he was caught buying stock in a German coronavirus test producer after receiving intelligence briefings on the matter. This is just one example of his questionable actions.<\/p>\n<h3>Corroding Senate Decorum and Public Confidence in the Court<\/h3>\n<p>Durbin has been a central figure in corroding Senate decorum and public confidence in the court for decades. He was behind the first filibuster used to stop an appeals-court nomination in 2003. In leaked memos from Durbin&#8217;s office, Miguel Estrada, a talented Honduran immigrant, was identified as &#8220;especially dangerous&#8221; because he refused to adhere to the left&#8217;s stereotypes. Durbin supported Harry Reid&#8217;s efforts to get rid of the judicial filibuster and engaged in smear campaigns when unable to stop appointments with votes.<\/p>\n<h3>Religious Tests and Smear Campaigns<\/h3>\n<p>Durbin has also engaged in religious tests and smear campaigns against Supreme Court nominees. In 2017, he asked Amy Coney Barrett to answer for her Catholicism, implying that orthodox Catholics are unable to uphold the law. In 2020, he announced his &#8220;no&#8221; vote on Coney Barrett&#8217;s SCOTUS nomination before ever meeting with her. During the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, Durbin did his best to portray the nominee as a gang rapist.<\/p>\n<h3>Creating the Perception of Corruption<\/h3>\n<p>After years of slandering members of the court for the purpose of delegitimizing them, Democrats will bring up the fact that the polls show a diminishing trust in the Supreme Court as if it happened in a vacuum or as if they did not intend for this to happen. This is their doing. They are the ones creating the perception of corruption where there is none. And why? Because the Constitution is a hindrance to their agenda.<\/p>\n<h3>Trying to Bully the Supreme Court<\/h3>\n<p>Durbin has even tried to bully Chief Justice Roberts into participating in his partisan clown show, claiming it was time &#8220;for Congress to accept its responsibility to establish an enforceable code of ethics for the Supreme Court, the only agency of our government without it.&#8221; The Supreme Court is an equal branch of the government, not an agency for Durbin to bully. Congress has no power to dictate how it conducts business.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abandoned-all-pretense-of-being-conservative-jonah-goldberg-joins-cnn-as-a-commentator-social-media-erupts\/\" title=\"\u2018Abandoned All Pretense Of Being Conservative\u2019: Jonah Goldberg Joins CNN As A Commentator, Social Media Erupts\">nationally syndicated columnist<\/a>, a Happy Warrior columnist at National Review, and author of five books\u2014the most recent. <\/div>\n<h2>Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent<\/h2>\n<div class=\"article-author\">By David Harsanyi<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>David Harsanyi&#8217;s book, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Eurotrash-America-Reject-Failed-Continent\/dp\/0063066017\/\">Eurotrash<\/a>, is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand why America should reject the failed ideas of a dying continent. Harsanyi argues that Europe&#8217;s social and economic policies have led to stagnation and decline, and that America should avoid making the same mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>Follow Harsanyi on Twitter, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/davidharsanyi\/\">@davidharsanyi<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Related Tags<\/h3>\n<div class=\"article-tags bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Clarence Thomas<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/dianne-feinstein\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Dianne Feinstein<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/dick-durbin\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Dick Durbin<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/ketanji-brown-jackson\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Ketanji Brown Jackson<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/neil-gorsuch\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Neil Gorsuch<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/peter-welch\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Peter Welch<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/richard-blumenthal\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Richard Blumenthal<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/sheldon-whitehouse\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Sheldon Whitehouse<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/sonia-sotomayor\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Sonia Sotomayor<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/stephen-breyer\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Stephen Breyer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The concerted effort by the media and Democrats to delegitimize the Supreme Court is the most consequential attack on our institutions in memory. \u00a0 Make no mistake. Today\u2019s \u201cSupreme Court Ethics Reform\u201d hearing is meant to discredit the high court and slander justices with innuendo. Nothing else. Democrats are angry because the court happens to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":831,"featured_media":1923192,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[3685,4381,8744,7843,4165,11526,3658],"class_list":["post-1923191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-democrats","tag-ethics","tag-justices","tag-lessons","tag-seek","tag-smearing","tag-them"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1923191","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/831"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1923191"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1923191\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1923192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1923191"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1923191"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1923191"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}