Another Democrat in Congress has now threatened the U.S. Supreme Court over its coming ruling on abortion.
A report from Fox News documents how Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., “issued a warning” to the justices in light of this week’s oral arguments in a case that could end up overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that originally created abortion “rights” in America.
That ruling is in danger of falling because of the advance of scientific knowledge about the pregnancy and birth process, as even its author nearyl 50 years ago admitted in that opinion that should the personhood of the unborn be established, the abortion rights case would collapse and the unborn would be protected by the Constitution.
Fox reported it was during a virtual event featuring New Hampshire’s entire House and Senate delegation that WMUR reporter Adam Sexton asked if public debate over abortion had “muted” due to many people in the U.S. only knowing life post-Roe v. Wade.
Shaheen charged that nothing would be muted about the reaction if that decision is reversed, a move that would not outlaw abortion but would turn its regulation back over to states.
“I hope the Supreme Court is listening to the people of the United States because – to go back to Adam Sexton’s question – I think if you want to see a revolution go ahead, outlaw Roe v. Wade and see what the response is of the public, particularly young people,” Shaheen said.
“Because I think that will not be acceptable to young women or young men.”
.@SenatorShaheen on new abortion restrictions going into effect in N.H. & the upcoming Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case: “I think if you want to see a revolution, go ahead, outlaw Roe v. Wade and see what the response is…” #NHPolitics #WMUR pic.twitter.com/O7weoVuOSk
— Adam Sexton (@AdamSextonWMUR) November 29, 2021
Fox News reported the makeup of the court – a 6-3 majority of justices appointed by Republicans – has led to discussion about the fall of Roe.
Roe claims abortion is virtually unrestricted up until about 23 or 24 weeks into pregnancy. The case being heard involves a Mississippi ban on abortion starting after 15 weeks.
In a separate statement, Shaheen said, “I’ve lived the consequences of the pre-Roe era – I had friends in college who were forced to seek dangerous back alley abortions because women across the country were denied access to critical family planning services. We cannot allow Republican lawmakers to turn back the clock on women’s reproductive health and rights, which is precisely what the Mississippi case seeks to do. It is time to sound the alarm. Roe v. Wade isn’t just a decision that impacts women, their health and their financial security – it also impacts generations of families.”
Earlier, during Supreme Court consideration of a separate abortion fight, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared at an abortion rights rally and screamed to the crowd: “I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price! You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
Here are Schumer’s shouts, along with the commentary provided by CNN:
Schumer’s words prompted Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to rebuke the Democratic leader.
He said, “Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous,” Roberts warned. “All Members of the Court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter.”
WND reported, too, when another Democratic senator threatened the U.S. Supreme Court if its justices don’t vote the way he wants on abortion.
That was Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who told The Hill that if the justices do not vote the way he wants on abortion:
“It will inevitably fuel and drive an effort to expand the Supreme Court if this activist majority betrays fundamental constitutional principles. It’s already driving that movement. Chipping away at Roe v. Wade will precipitate a seismic movement to reform the Supreme Court. It may not be expanding the Supreme Court, it may be making changes to its jurisdiction, or requiring a certain numbers of votes to strike down certain past precedents.”
Longtime liberal and constitutional expert Jonathan Turley, at the time, warned of the consequences of such threats.
“I have previously criticized Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., for his almost unrivaled advocacy of censorship and speech controls. Blumenthal previously threatened social media companies not to ‘backslide’ in censoring opposing views. Now, Blumenthal is taking up the cudgel of court packing with not so subtle threats to conservative justices that, if they do not vote with their liberal colleagues, the court may be fundamentally altered. He is not alone in such reckless and coercive rhetoric.”
Turley noted, “Democratic leaders not only have embraced court packing but now openly threaten the court to vote with the liberal justices or face dire consequences for the court. …The Democrats are pushing to engage in court packing despite polls showing heavy opposition to the move from voters as well as opposition from the justices themselves.”
He continued, “It is particularly chilling to see United States senators openly pressuring justices to vote with their side or face severe consequences. Blumenthal went as far as to mention specific cases and the expected rulings. This follows raw demands in the confirmation hearing of now Justice Amy Coney Barrett that she promise to rule on particular cases ‘correctly’ as a condition for her confirmation,” he said.
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