On Monday evening's edition of CNN Tonight, Republican political strategist and CNN commentator Scott Jennings did some well-deserved mocking of the leftist media's cries of illegitimacy when it comes to the institution of the Supreme Court. He chalked their constant kvetching to the fact that they're "just mad that they're not getting their way every time." Since the media is dominated by leftists, that's not surprising. For all their talk of democracy, the democratic institutions in the United States are only legitimate when they work at the left's behest.
First up was host Kasie Hunt who asked Jennings if Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell's handling of Supreme Court appointments led to this "contribute to the legitimacy of the court?"
Jennings rightly responded that McConnell "would say polling numbers shouldn’t have anything to do with how the court does its job." Jennings then asked rhetorically "what do we want the court to be subject to the whims of a popular opinion mob? I mean that’s not what they’re there for. They're there to interpret the constitution."
That is obviously true since our founders wanted Supreme Court justices to have life appointments and be confirmed by United States Senators, who were originally supposed to be appointed themselves by state legislatures.
"The people who are questioning its legitimacy are just mad that they're not getting their way every time. An institution’s legitimacy cannot be called into question just because you don't get your way 100 percent of the time," Jennings correctly noted.
Former Clinton administration apparatchik Paul Begala who painfully displayed his complete ignorance of our system of government and our founders' intent cried that "this Supreme Court has a majority of justices who are nominated there by Presidents who first came to office without the support of the American people. They got in through the electoral college, that's fine, but they didn’t have popular support."
Begala obviously doesn't understand that the framers didn't want the government to be run by the tyranny of the majority, which is what the electoral college prevents.
Continuing his crying, Begala wailed that the four right-leaning justices (plus John Roberts) "were confirmed by Senators from small states that represent a minority of the American people."
If Begala had his way, New York and California would get to decide who controls all three branches of the federal government. This makes him a perfect fit for the other historical and constitutional illiterates on CNN.
This segment on CNN was made possible by Farmers Insurance. Their information is linked.
To read the entire back and forth click "expand":
CNN Tonight
10/3/2022
9:53:56 p.m. EasternKASIE HUNT: So, Scott Jennings, I wanna get your take on this. Because Mitch McConnell, whom you have worked for many many years, has been a key architect of the court in its current form. And it has been something that Democrats were very upset with how Merrick Garland's nomination was handled. For example, among other things. Do you think the way that McConnell has conducted his efforts around this contribute to the legitimacy of the court?
SCOTT JENNINGS: Well, I think if he were here, he would say polling numbers shouldn’t have anything to do with how the court does its job. I mean, the legitimacy, what do we want the court to be subject to the whims of a popular opinion mob? I mean that’s not what they’re there for. They're there to interpret the constitution. And to interpret the laws that the Congress passes. So, I, think right now the people who are questioning its legitimacy are just mad that they're not getting their way every time. An institution’s legitimacy cannot be called into question just because you don't get your way 100 percent of the time. To me, it’s very clear, it’s a conservative court right now but it hasn’t always been and it won’t always be.
PAUL BEGALA: In a free country, legitimacy is derived from the people. We are the sovereign, we don't have a king or queen. This Supreme Court has a majority of justices who are nominated there by Presidents who first came to office without the support of the American people. They got in through the electoral college, that's fine, but they didn’t have popular support. And then they were confirmed by Senators from small states that represent a minority of the American people.
HUNT: We need a split screen of the two. There we go!
[crosstalk]
BEGALA: By the way, it’s about bedtime for the kids, if you need a fairytale, listen to Scott. Because the Supreme Court’s not on the level. 60 percent of Republicans think they’re doing a great job and only 36 percent of independents. Set my Democrats aside of course I don’t like what they’re doing. But when two-thirds of independents don't think the court is doing its job. That is a crisis of legitimacy.
JOAN BISKUPIC: And could I say something? It’s not going to change soon, Scott. When you said they’ll be up, they’ll be down. The youngest members of this court, minus the newest justice, Jackson. Are all in their 50s. They're gonna be here longer than we will be here.
JENNINGS: Praise Mitch McConnell, and praised Jesus, thank goodness. I just think these guys are not supposed to be reading polls. They’re supposed to be reading the constitution!
BEGALA: They’re supposed to be reading the constitution, not some right-wing claptrap talking points from Fox News! That’s what they’re doing!
