Obama v. Roberts: Politics, Decorum Collide?

I believe that Chief Justice is correct. The State of the Union address is no place for the President of the US to bash a Supreme Court decision. Such actions are consistent with a bully president who has lost a battle.

I do not think that the court should be at the State of the Union. It is a report on the country to the country. I am not so sure that the Congress needs to hear it. The People should hear it. Congress should pretty much already know the state of the union, long before the speech/report is given. If they do not then they are truly out of touch with the needs of the people.

I think Chief Justice Roberts is displaying a thin skin. The State of the Union address is a report on the country to the country, and the Supreme Court decisions directly impact the country.

The State of the Union has long since become nothing but a show. The sitting President gets to make political points while his party members stand and applaud and the opposing party members sit.
President Obama was way out of line to criticize any Supreme Court ruling in that setting. He was acting like he was still on the campaign trail.
He’s only unhappy that there will now be more campaign money available to be used against his party. It may offset the big advantage he had in funding during the last election.

I think John Roberts is a wimp. He is obviously a thin skinned wing nut. Anyone who feels it is alright for a corporation to write a million dollar check to a candidate

President Obama did the right thing by calling out the Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance law in the State of the Union. That decision was a travesty for the American people. Big
Corporations already have the Supreme Court deciding every case in their favor. Do they really need to have more influence in our political system?

Chief Justice Roberts should have been fired and removed from the bench when he “forgot” the presidential oath of office. I know there is no legal way to do that but you can bet Bush and Cheney would have manged it. President Obama was right on regarding the travesty heaped on American Citzens with the ruling for corporate political donations. And for Nigthline to run this story with not a mention of Congressman Patrick Kennedys inpassioned plea for reason on the Afghanastan issues and the skewed use of the media coverage reinforces everyones understanding of whos running this country NOW.

Roberts is definitely thin-skinned and egotistical!

The Chief Justice is wrong. The good men and women of the court need to remember why they are on the court. It is simply childish to absent themselves when they find that they are in disagreement. The President was not wrong.

SC Chief Justice Roberts is correct. Since it is political protocol for the SC Justices to sit emotionless during the SOTU, and obama knew that, it was especially un-Presidential for obama to take a verbal swipe at one of the other EQUAL arms of our government. obama seems to continue to forget that. Also, obama’s swipe was woefully ignorant of the facts. The SC decision that obama highlighted does NOT include foreign companies to be able to buy commercial time for a political candidate. I am glad to see Chief Justice Roberts stand up for the Supreme Court! obama’s actions since becoming President have been anything but Presidential.

Chief Justice Roberts was absolutely correct. The forum had 1 branch of government criticizing another branch of government while another branch of government joined in on the criticism by standing ovation. This has nothing to do with whether the Court ruled correctly. It has to do with the proper place to hold a pep rally.

This is nothing new, many Presidents have criticized the SCOTUS at the SOTU.
Roberts is showing his arrogance at being criticized, which is certainly his prerogative, but it makes him look petty.
He should remember that the SCOTUS has reversed itself many times on many bad decisions: Dred Scot & Plessy v. Ferguson come to mind.
So yes, Roberts’ skin is indeed very thin.

I am surprised Chief Justice Roberts hasn’t said something before now. First of all the President Mis-spoke. He didn’t have his facts correct and If That was a Republican President that did something like that the “Press” would have taken Him to the cleaners. Instead not much of anything was really made of it especially the fact that the President had his facts WRONG!!! I think that the Chief Justices should boycott the rest of this President’s State of the Union Political Speeches as they are nothing more than Obama Loving to himself Talk and Talk about nothing but healthcare. OMG What about JOBS? Like you promised in that speech. Or… maybe the President did not write down and he forgot what he was going to work on?? Personally I really think He and his cronies in Congress don’t care what the American People want. They only care what They want! I hope people remember this when they Vote!!

I don’t know what is going on with the Executive branch, but where I come from, common courtesy would dictate that you are not going to call out the highest court in the country in the middle of a State of the Union address. The United States Supreme Court, in my opinion, should not have to endure, publicly, the disrespect it was shown.

are you kidding me, yes Chief Justice Roberts has thin skin. How old is he, Ten? When there is light darkness must flee. He’s reacting to the President statement because it’s true. Most people don’t want their deceit and dirt exposed nationally and Chief Justice Roberts is no exception. I’m glad the president exposed the subterfuge and regression of morality that’s taken place in the highest court. The people deserve to know that the Commander and Chief of the free world does not agree with the corrupt ruling of the Supreme Court. This government is transparent. Make better decisions Chief Justice Roberts to avoid the spotlight because the American people are watching.

If I remember correctly from the thirty some years of living in US, I have never heard any president making criticisms about a court ruling in such a forum. Also, Obama certainly knows well about the Country’s Constitutional Laws. which backs the SC’s ruling.
I certainly object to ABC’s usage of “thin skin” to characterize CJ’s behavior. It is highly unethical as it insinuates a personal character defect, which is unwarranted and void of basis. On the contrary, I think CJ has showed a very laudable degree of courage, decorum and clear thinking.
By the way, to the person, who claimed that Obama is the ruler of the free world, I would invite him to do an in depth survey around the free world.

Obama used very poor taste in how he handled this. Roberts has every right to critize.

I think the so called president was so very out of line. Seems he likes to belittle something or someone whenever it fits him. It’s about time some influencial people speak up about how the pres. acts and speaks, which is way out of line.

Anyone who claims the President’s remarks are unprecedented hasn’t watched many State of the Union speeches. There have been dozens of veiled references about many issues including Roe V Wade made by President’s Reagan, Bush, and Junior.

Edwards should be removed from office and the Supreme Court should be summarily arrested by Obama and ended. The Supreme Court is nothing more than a reactionary body intended to maintain the racist, classist, and sexist white european male hegemony. The Supreme Court is an archaic relic and has no business ruling in today’s world which is multicultural, has no borders, and no longer supports the imperialist-capitalist exploitation of the people and Gaia. Obama is right and the Supreme Court must go!

Roberts definitely has a thin skin, along with another of the right-wings cranks on the court – Alito. Alito shook his head and mouthed no during Obama’s admonishment.
Whether or not one likes Obama (who is an increasing disappointment), the Supreme Court decision was a disaster for the country. Roberts will not be held accountable because of the corrupt spinelessness of Congress, but he should be made aware that he has done great wrong.

i need the video of nightline on critical condition obesity crisis

The YouTube clip of President Obama at the State of the Union speech shows that the Democrats in the chamber stood and calmly applauded the president’s deferential remarks. They did NOT “cheer and holler” as Justice Roberts mischaracterized it in his speech down South. He was engaging in political hyperbole, almost making it sound like they jeered and threw tomatoes, but the reality is much more benign and polite: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jackson-williams/supreme-court-justice-rob_b_493984.html

Your question was framed, “So, tonight we ask: Is Chief Justice Roberts simply upholding principle and tradition? Or is he displaying a thin skin?”
Answering your question –
Short Answer: Chief Justice Roberts is definitely thin skinned and using the moment to stir up needless controversy.
Long Answer: If any of the 5 Supreme Court justices who pushed through this legislation is concerned that they may be perceived as being in the pocket of big business then they should seriously consider the consequences when they allow such a ruling to become law, overturning a century of precedence.
Even the language used in the Supreme Court’s argument sets the court up for public questioning, giving the impression that a corporation has the same rights as an actual individual living breathing human being. CORPORATIONS ARE NOT HUMANS.
The ruling was a travesty and thinking Americans regardless of political affiliations recognize it as such. You don’t often find 80% of all American citizens agreeing on any one thing, and they agree on this. More than one poll has been taken with similar results.

Jay, under the law, corporations ARE human. The courts gave the “rights of personhood” to the corporations in the late 1800′s.
The SCOTUS gave the corporations the keys to the kingdom with this latest treasonous ruling.
I think Obama was way to easy on them.
He is on the same page with them and it was political theatrics is probably closer to the truth.

Marie’s comment at Mar 11, 12:46:14 is right on target, however the President would have shown more fairness if he had prefaced his opinion by asking congress to withhold any applause in response to remarks he is about to make on a recent Supreme Court opinion.