POTUS Interrupts Press Briefing to Announce Souter’s Retirement, Announce Qualifications for Next Supreme
EmailABC News’ Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report:
"If there’s a job to do, you’ve got to do it yourself," President Obama said as he interrupted White House press secretary Robert Gibbs’ daily press briefing today.
"See you guys later, have a good weekend," Gibbs joked, stepping off the platform and to the side.
"This is kind of cool, Robert," said the president as he took the podium.
"It’s way cooler than it seems," Gibbs said.
"Yes, absolutely," agreed the president.
"The reason I am interrupting Robert is not because he’s not doing a good job, he’s doing an unbelievable job," the president said, "but it’s because I just got off the phone with Justice (David) Souter and I would like to say a few words about his decision to retire from the Supreme Court."
Gibbs had just a few moment before said the White House had received no official notice from Justice Souter, whose retirement was reported last night.
"Throughout this two decades on the Supreme Court, Justice Souter has shown what it means to be a fair minded and independent judge," continued the president. "He came to the bench with no particular ideology. He never sought to promote a political agenda and he consistently defied labels and rejected absolutes, focusing instead on just task: reaching a just result in the case that was before him.
"He approached judging as he approaches life," said Mr. Obama, "with a feverish work ethic and a good sense of humor, with integrity, equanimity, and compassion — the hallmark of not just being a good judge but being a good person. I am incredibly grateful for his dedicated service. I told him as much when we spoke. I spoke on behalf of the American people thanking him for his service. I wished him safe travels on his journey home to his beloved New Hampshire and on the road ahead."
The president then turned to "the process of selecting someone to replace Justice Souter," calling it "among my most serious responsibilities as president."
"I will seek somebody with a sharp and independent mind, and a record of excellence and integrity," he said. "I will seek someone who understands that justice isn’t about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book, it is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people’s lives, whether they can make a living, and care for their families, whether they feel safe in their homes, and welcome in their own nation. I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with peoples hopes and struggles as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes."
Continued the former constitutional law lecturer: "I will seek somebody who is dedicated to the rule, who honors our constitutional traditions, who respects the integrity of the judicial process and the appropriate limits of the judicial role. I will seek somebody who shares my respect for constitutional values on which this nation was founded and who brings a thoughtful understanding on how to apply them in our time."
The president said he would "consult with members of both parties across the political spectrum and it is my hope that we can swear in our new Supreme Court Justice in time for him or her to be seated by the first Monday in October when the courts new term begins.
"And with that," the president said, "I would like you to give Robert a tough time again."
– Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
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Yep.. never know when the Baraqstar will show up at the daily presser.. I guess Gibbs won’t have to worry about having any no show reporters now.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 1, 2009, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
“The reason I am interrupting Robert is not because he’s not doing a good job, he’s doing an unbelievable job”
Well, I guess that’s one way of putting it…it is “unbelievable” how incompetent Robert Gibbs is in his current role.
Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the selection of Justice Souter’s replacement will have less to do with qualifications and ability and more to do with ethnicity and gender. I’m not implying these (qualifications/ability & gender/ethnicity) are mutually exclusive, but identity politics will appear to have a signficant role in selection as the MSM pundits are rolling out the possible replacement candidates, primarily women, some with African-American or Latino backgrounds (including Elena Kagan who has never been a judge or even argued a case in a court of appeals).
I have nothing against women, African-Americans, Latinos, etc. (I fall in one of these categories). I (as I believe most Amercans) am interested in seeing the most qualified person who would represent ALL AMERICANS receive this very important position, regardless of gender, ethnicity, etc. Leave politics out (although with this very political-driven adminstration – perhaps the most ever – this is nothing more than a pipe dream on my part).
Posted by: tjp612 | May 1, 2009, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Gibbs really makes me miss Tony Snow. BO must have not been getting any attention today with Michelle kickin it old school with her $540 clown shoes and Biden out of the country flying coach for sticking his foot in his mouth.
Posted by: Don't swine flu me Bro! | May 1, 2009, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
After reading how The President wants “someone who understands that justice isn’t about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book” it made my stomach turn to think of an unelected official making laws, who uses emotion and ignores real legal precedents.
But then it occurred to me… Judge Judy.
Emotional, Irrational, Empathetic. That’s exactly the kind of judge The President wants! I was looking at this as a negative and I was wrong. Maybe it won’t be so bad after all.
Posted by: HBK | May 1, 2009, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
Ahhh more whining … I never tire of hearing Republicans perfecting their new (likely long-term) pastime.
Posted by: Dobbins | May 1, 2009, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
Was Obama able to speak without the telepromptors? Normally he can only babble when he doesn’t have them. Gift my butt.
Posted by: Brad | May 1, 2009, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
HBK:”After reading how The President wants “someone who understands that justice isn’t about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book” it made my stomach turn to think of an unelected official making laws, who uses emotion and ignores real legal precedents.”
Not quite sure how you made the leap to judges “making laws.” Is the right cranking up the “ACTIVISTS JUDGES@!!!11!” bumpersticker maker again?
Can you give any examples of judges “making law” in the last 20 years? Please cite the case that is clearly not merely a case of interpretation (the Supreme’s explicit Constitutional right and power) – I’ll bet you it was a conservative appointee…
Posted by: jhw539 | May 1, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
Can Obama appoint HIMSELF!
Obviously he is the most qualified. Has almost been deified by his adherents. He is an attorney. And it would help Obama “change” America in the direction he desires until liberty and individualism, which suffered greatly under Bush, is finally stripped away until it has no “hope”. Obama should ignore whatever dirt the Clintons likely have on him and instead of appointing Hillary appoint “The One”. Certainly “The One” could multi-task and be both our “dear leader” and also a Justice!
Posted by: Ed | May 1, 2009, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
You’re doing an unbelievable job Robert.
But I have a gift.
Posted by: max | May 1, 2009, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
“I will seek someone who understands that justice isn’t about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book, it is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people’s lives, whether they can make a living, and care for their families, whether they feel safe in their homes, and welcome in their own nation. I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with peoples hopes and struggles as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes.”
=====================================
These seem like qualites for those who are making or deciding legislation to create laws, not qualities for those on SCOTUS.
Posted by: mad | May 1, 2009, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm
Ed:”Has almost been deified by his adherents.”
What nonsense. He’s been critcized regularly by those on the left and – unlike the Party of No – he can’t even get all the Democrats in Congress to support him. The voting record is a fact that you can’t spin – Bush was more deified by his rubber stamp Republican Congress members than Obama has been!
Posted by: jhw539 | May 1, 2009, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
Thank God we have a president that has a brain and knows how to use it.
Posted by: Jinny Lee | May 2, 2009, 7:38 am 7:38 am
To all the conservative and republican whiners reading this, just shut up already. He won the election so he can pick whomever he likes and your view is irrelevant. He didn’t need your support to rack up 69mil votes on the way to his landslide victory and he quite frankly doesn’t need it now. Don’t like his pick, win an election. Until then, shut up.
Posted by: Ray | May 2, 2009, 7:51 am 7:51 am
Look it’s his football, if you don’t like how he rewrites the rule of games all of the time (and glosses it over).. get your own football..or else he’s taking his home.. to the White House and giving it to the water dog.. so there!!!
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 2, 2009, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
The President should appoint that person he believes will best fill the office. If It is a woman, and she is African American or Latino those are all plusses. What we certainly do not need is another Justice who views the position as a pulpit from which he must advocate essentially political positions in the guise of legal opinions. We also do not need another elevated Circuit Judge. Where are the Frankfurters and the Douglas’ now that we need them. By the way, there is a vast difference between sympathy and empathy.
Posted by: OLD WHITE LAWYER | May 3, 2009, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
The primary qualifications Obama will be seeking in a Supreme Court nominee will be those of a lackey.
Posted by: Rasputin3.14 | May 4, 2009, 6:37 am 6:37 am
I am a bit worried when Obama picks his nominees.
I got $20 says his pick owes $30,000 in back taxes.
Posted by: Poncho | May 5, 2009, 12:33 am 12:33 am