Supreme Court rules – correctly, sadly – in favor of Westboro nuts
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the First Amendment protects fundamentalist church members who mount attention-getting, anti-gay protests outside military funerals.
The court voted 8-1 in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. The decision upheld an appeals court ruling that threw out a $5 million judgment to the father of a dead Marine who sued church members after they picketed his son’s funeral.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the opinion for the court. Justice Samuel Alito dissented.
“What Westboro said, in the whole context of how and where it chose to say it, is entitled to ’special protection’ under the First Amendment,” Roberts wrote, “and that protection cannot be overcome by a jury finding that the picketing was outrageous.”
As despicable as those “church members” might be, I don’t know how the court could have ruled otherwise. Tolerating the rantings of hateful fools is part of the price we pay for free speech.
– Jay Bookman
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673 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
March 3rd, 2011
8:49 am
Also known as the save our economy wars…
my post @ 8.48 goes for you too, md.
When you’re arguing with a “Chris Matthrews” you’re like those poor souls who yell at Redneck Convert for being prejudiced against Those People.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 3rd, 2011
8:50 am
md
I always say it’s better to be standing with two feet above ground that laying six feet below.
Normal
I’ve got friends and family that have been there. Plus, I see the R&R troops coming back on a daily basis. I, for one, will not forget what’s going on and who’s doing the work.
USinUK
March 3rd, 2011
8:50 am
md – one of my friends from HS is slowly losing his wife to brain cancer while another friend of our family is fighting leukemia.
believe me, if you wake up with only a few minor aches and pains, you really have nothing to complain about.
md
March 3rd, 2011
8:50 am
“Cheap” gas is a relative term………………but watch what happens when we (the huge geographical country with no mass transit) that gas gets to 5,6,7 dollars a gallon…………..think the housing market collapse was bad……….one hasn’t seen anything yet.
Won’t be able to drive that car to the store to even buy that $10 loaf of bread.
stands for decibels
March 3rd, 2011
8:51 am
Eventually there might wind up being a crazed sniper borne of being a victim of one of these funeral crashers who pops protestors’ kneecaps
Sigh. I see people are still indulging their fantasies about various grisly ends to the Phelps gang.
what can I say. I’d been there, done that myself a bunch of times, years and years ago. These freaks have been at it since 1991, after all.
TaxPayer
March 3rd, 2011
8:52 am
Non-union government jobs available. Competitive wages and all the food you can eat. Inquire at your local red state employment office for details.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 3rd, 2011
8:53 am
dB
I just look over those posts. Not even worth wasting the time to read. I’d rather fantasize about me and about 6 of the sports illustrated swimsuit models. Much better use of my brain cells.
md
March 3rd, 2011
8:55 am
“When you’re arguing with a “Chris Matthrews” you’re like those poor souls who yell at Redneck Convert for being prejudiced against Those People.”
Well……on the one hand, I know exactly what you mean…on the other, I know (sadly) that he isn’t alone. And s/he probably means everything that’s written……………
USinUK
March 3rd, 2011
8:55 am
SoCo – heck, even fantasizing about the AARP’s swimsuit models is a better use of brain cells
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 3rd, 2011
8:57 am
USinner
md
March 3rd, 2011
8:58 am
“heck, even fantasizing about the AARP’s swimsuit models is a better use of brain cells”
That is an interesting concept……….when I was younger, wouldn’t look twice at an older woman…..man how things change as we age…………
TaxPayer
March 3rd, 2011
8:58 am
md,
It’s not too late to get in on the ground floor of a business that will grow more and more as gas prices rise (actually there are many businesses that will prosper but I mention only one here): Horses. They’re the latest in transportation. But not horses themselves. They’re expensive to purchase and maintain. I’m talking the ancillary businesses including shoeing and hay growing.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 3rd, 2011
8:59 am
md
I’m the opposite. All I dated was older women when I was younger. My wife was only the 2nd female I had ever dated that was younger than me.
stands for decibels
March 3rd, 2011
8:59 am
even fantasizing about the AARP’s swimsuit models is a better use of brain cells
Ageist! LIBRUL BIGOT!!!!11!!!
independent thinker
March 3rd, 2011
9:00 am
Instead of abortion,miscarriages gay rights, the president’s birth certificate or some other right wingnut causes, have the clowns at the legislature making it a crime to disrupt a funeral or harrass the mourners-
or make it a defense to a bodily assault charge against someone who attacks these morons at a funeral. Throw the scumbags in jail if they do it here in Georgia. \We’ll see if they really want to test that law.
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 3rd, 2011
9:00 am
Duty calls….
See y’all later……………
USinUK
March 3rd, 2011
9:00 am
dB – don’t forget “pinko”
stands for decibels
March 3rd, 2011
9:02 am
have the clowns at the legislature making it a crime to disrupt a funeral or harrass the mourners-
well, you see, there’s this “Supreme Court” we have, and they’ve already essentially said that’s a waste of time.
md
March 3rd, 2011
9:03 am
Re: the oil wars………some of you must have conviently forgotten that many here used the term on a daily basis not too long ago……..and like it or not, the is an element of truth involved.
Goes back to the discussion last night about things we will never know………the powers that be aren’t going to come right out and say “we are fighting these wars to keep the oil coming”, but that is what the outcome dictates.
It IS all about the oil…………….that IS our national interest.
stands for decibels
March 3rd, 2011
9:04 am
don’t forget “pinko”
You think the folks who scream about closeted racist lefties really make a distinction?
anyway, stuff awaits. Don’t suppress anyone’s 1st amendment rights while I’m away.
Normal
March 3rd, 2011
9:06 am
Just heard that the big oil companies, collectively, made over one trillion profit, yep profit. The House Democrats wanted to pass a bill to remove taxpayer subsidies to the oil companies based on the profits. House Republicans to a man, voted no. Why? They can’t claim it’s for job, either. Ex on, from 2005 to now has had billions, trillions of profits and yet has cut jobs from 830,000+ to 790,000+over that same time span. All one can say is WTF???
independent thinker
March 3rd, 2011
9:07 am
Stand for Decibels- the case awas about the mourners collecting damages for their emotional distress -not criminal behavior. It is perfectly legal to regulate demonstrations- politicians do it all the time. Make the SOBS stay 1000 feet away from any funeral- one foot over the line and they get free room and board.
@@
March 3rd, 2011
9:08 am
jay must be dumping his morning news elsewhere.
It’s 9:07!!!
stands for decibels
March 3rd, 2011
9:08 am
one other thing.
md @ 9.03, I’m just throwing this out there, but while I understand your sentiment, and short-term you’re utterly correct. But I disagree with what seems a presumption that our current amount of dependence on oil is in our long term national interest.
We absolutely have to have more mass transit (yes, we’re geographically more dispersed than Europe, but we have many urban centers that would benefit right now from it), AND we absolutely have to be at the forefront of getting our population to downsize and find more fuel efficient private vehicles.
moreover, we have to stop indulging ourselves into thinking this is a left-right thing. It really shouldn’t be.
/soapbox
/drive-by
Jackie
March 3rd, 2011
9:09 am
Turns out, those pickets from Westboro church are mostly members of the pastor’s family and they are lawyers who use the money received from court costs received in defending their abhorrent actions to enrich themselves.
It was reported, the youngest daughter has argued at least one case before the US Supreme Court.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/02/westboro-funeral-pickets-protected-speech-high-court-rules/
TaxPayer
March 3rd, 2011
9:10 am
Normal,
You’re suffering from oil envy and more. Please report to your nearest FOX station for immediate consultation. If you cannot find one, please seek out a Republican to help you.
Normal
March 3rd, 2011
9:11 am
Yeh, Taxie, That must be it…Thanks, I needed that…
Doggone/GA
March 3rd, 2011
9:13 am
“Make the SOBS stay 1000 feet away from any funeral- one foot over the line and they get free room and board.”
They WERE 1000 feet away
md
March 3rd, 2011
9:16 am
sfd,
Couldn’t agree more…………but, I went through the last gas crisis back in the 70’s…….that was 40 years ago…….and “we” have done absolutely nothing to solve the problem (other than create a huge dept..DOE.. to NOT do it).
I’m looking at the reality of the situation….not the could of’s and should of’s………we are still dependent on oil, and if it keeps going up, it’s gonna hurt.
md
March 3rd, 2011
9:19 am
And to add to that, we are trying to come out of a recession with large unemployment numbers……high gas prices are going to wipe out any gains toward improvement, and more than likely plunge the economy back into recession, and depending on the price (inflation), maybe depression.
@@
March 3rd, 2011
9:20 am
Shades of Iran…
THE HAGUE — Libyan forces loyal to Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi have captured three crew members of a Dutch naval helicopter who were rescuing European citizens, last Sunday, the Dutch Defense Ministry said on Thursday, the first report of foreigners being by held in Libya’s bloody and unfolding uprising.
Hostages?
TaxPayer
March 3rd, 2011
9:23 am
The US is number one in oil consumption and is number three in oil production.
md
March 3rd, 2011
9:25 am
Did anyone see the Libyan explanation on CNN last night?
An evil third party has entered the country and slipped the entire population hallucinogenics…..and keep giving them to them……….
Unbelievable………….
buck@gon
March 3rd, 2011
9:25 am
“Tolerating the rantings of hateful fools is part of the price we pay for free speech.”
That is the main reason Jay Bookman and Cynthia Tucker can on one hand demand civility of their readers and fellow countrymen, while on the other side of their mouth they, not even thinly, veil their hateful contempt of those who don’t believe as they do with ubiquitous words such as “lunatic” and “right-wing extremist”.
What is disturbing about the news facts are that it was 8-1. Who was the ONE!!?
USinUK
March 3rd, 2011
9:27 am
md – 9:25 – DAMN! I miss the international news one night, and I miss a doozy like that???
rats.
USinUK
March 3rd, 2011
9:28 am
buck – read the news – it was Alito.
google is your friend.
Doggone/GA
March 3rd, 2011
9:28 am
“slipped the entire population hallucinogenics…..and keep giving them to them”
Is he still claiming it’s the fault of Nescafe’?
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 3rd, 2011
9:30 am
An evil third party has entered the country and slipped the entire population hallucinogenics…..and keep giving them to them……….
I am not blogging from inside Libya.
What is disturbing about the news facts are that it was 8-1. Who was the ONE!!?
It was that Icon of the Right, Justice Alito!!!! I guess you also attribute that 1st Amendment that Bookman and Tucker enjoy as the same that conservative media can do the same about the left-wing, Pelosi-Reid-Obama agenda and other crap, right?
USinUK
March 3rd, 2011
9:32 am
“It was that Icon of the Right, Justice Alito!!!! ”
wait, wait … wasn’t he the one who said he would have to rely on his EXPERIENCE when deciding court cases???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfyZWnQVnQ
why, yes, I do believe he was …
md
March 3rd, 2011
9:32 am
Wonder how many resolutions the UN will pass while the population of Libya gets slaughtered??
At least their chairs are comfortable………
Southern Comfort (aka The Man)
March 3rd, 2011
9:37 am
md
Don’t know if you saw this one yet….
Houston prosecutors will ask a court Thursday to formally exonerate a Texas man after DNA tests ruled out his guilt in a rape for which he served 17 years in prison.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/03/03/texas.rape.exoneration/index.html?hpt=T2
Today is also the 20 year anniversary of the Rodney King beating….
jm
March 3rd, 2011
9:39 am
Obama’s 2012 budget. Ensuring our ship of state sinks beneath the waves. Thanks Obama.
http://www.pgpf.org/Issues/Fiscal-Outlook/2011/02/15/Analysis-of-the-Presidents-Fiscal-Year-2012-Budget.aspx
williebkind
March 3rd, 2011
9:45 am
What is the difference between hate speech and free speech? Why do we have hate crimes? It seems the minority is always getting their way-by hook or crook.
Call it like it is
March 3rd, 2011
9:45 am
You know this is sad on so many levels. I cant imagine being the father of a fallen son and getting ready to bury my child and have these nutburgers screaming in the background. I am amazed somone has not snapped and gone after them. I don’t know if I could be that strong to not take matters into my own hands.
Funny thing is that they think they are doing the Lords work. If they only knew.
The Price is Right
March 3rd, 2011
9:49 am
“We are looking at some potentially horrible options,” including massive layoffs and an inability to make Medicare payments, Kleefisch says. “We urge those Democratic Senators to return because we need them to do what they were elected to do.”
I Object!
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 3rd, 2011
9:57 am
When it comes to respecting the death of a human being free speech laws mean nothing.
If this were my child and his funeral was being disrespected I would be forced to commit a crime that I can’t post here on this blog.
I could care less about their constitutional rights, sometimes things are between one man and another. The law doesn’t play any factor.
Disrespecting the death of someone that gave their life for their country should be considered a crime.
TaxPayer
March 3rd, 2011
9:57 am
Since Republicans like to volunteer to help out folks, they should be willing to step up to the plate so we can eliminate that costly FDA.
0311/0317 - 1811/1801
March 3rd, 2011
10:00 am
I guess Jay and Cynthia are in an important meeting this morning.
Something probably like, “how to make this paper more liberal”.
Bosch
March 3rd, 2011
10:00 am
I wonder if jm ever reads what he posts?
Conclusion
President Obama’s proposed 2012 budget and the discussion in Congress represent a starting point to begin addressing our nation’s fiscal challenges. Both parties need to go much further. The real threat to America’s long-term economic future is not short-term discretionary spending, but the long-term structural deficits that result in massive interest costs that would burden our nation for decades. To address our long-term fiscal and economic challenges effectively, we need a bipartisan plan that fully tackles all of the major unsustainable areas of the Federal budget. The only way for us to win the future is with a bipartisan plan for the future: a set of sound and sustainable fiscal policies that solve our long-term structural deficits and can be implemented gradually as our economy recovers. Despite the political challenges of reaching bipartisan solutions, the President’s Fiscal Commission is proof that this can be done. It is time for lawmakers from both parties to show leadership by putting our country on a path to economic prosperity and fiscal sustainability.
Obviously the Foundation disagrees with him.
jm
March 3rd, 2011
10:01 am
Obama keeps repeating only the “tough decisions reach his desk”… yeah, guess that’s right. Then he tosses them into the trash can and works on something else. What a pansy.
Midori
March 3rd, 2011
10:01 am
who was that spouting the ridiculous story about a woman driving an expensive car paying for food/etc. with WIC and/or food stamps? recycled bs is still bs:
Ronald Reagan created the lie of the Cadillac-driving “welfare queen” to turn the public sentiment against welfare recipients. Now Haley Barbour creates his own nasty lie to smear Medicaid recipients:
“We have people pull up at the pharmacy window in a BMW and say they can’t afford their co-payment.”
–Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, Feb. 27, 2011
The Washington POst says this is a big fat lie.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2011/03/h…
jm
March 3rd, 2011
10:01 am
Bosch – did you see the 2021 budget deficit?????
Bosch
March 3rd, 2011
10:04 am
jm,
Yes, I did, and believe it or not — it can not be magically “fixed” in a couple years — like the Foundation analysis said “it’s a start” — and they also concluded that the President’s budget is on the right track to doing this — as other charts showed in the piece — believing otherwise is a fool’s errand.
Like I mentioned yesterday, comprehension isn’t your “gift” — I see.
0311/0317 - 1811/1801
March 3rd, 2011
10:05 am
Jay !!!
“Arizona Lawmakers May Make Colt Official State Gun”
Now, what would Georgia’s be ?
The new Ruger “Judge” …………. shoots .45 long Colt or .410 shotgun rounds !
Bosch
March 3rd, 2011
10:05 am
Hi Midori!
That linky doesn’t work.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
March 3rd, 2011
10:08 am
who was that spouting the ridiculous story about a woman driving an expensive car paying for food/etc. with WIC and/or food stamps? recycled bs is still bs:
Well, like I said the other day, I never have any luck spotting a Welfare Queen like some of the other Conservatives on here. The ones I meet in stores are poor as a church mouse with kids in rags and they drive a old rattletrap of a car that just suprizes me it was good enough to get a tag. And the stuff they buy would gag a starving hound dog.
But I’m sure they’re out there. It’s just that I’ve never met one. Maybe I don’t shop at good enough stores that they go to. I go to the cheap places.
Have a good day everybody.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
March 3rd, 2011
10:08 am
So my question is does Jay Bookman consider these people “left wing nuts”???
I don’t see that mentioned anywhere in the article??
Hmmm….. I wonder why?
jm
March 3rd, 2011
10:09 am
Bosch 10:04 – I can read a report and draw different conclusions, or extend my conclusions from there.
Sure, they say its a start, they’re being PC. The reality is, the budget does nothing to fix the deficit. And most analysts say the revenue assumptions are overly optimistic.
jm
March 3rd, 2011
10:13 am
cheers folks. got more important things to do that try to pull ostrich heads oiut of the sand today.
Keep up the good fight!
March 3rd, 2011
10:13 am
Midori….I just noticed that Whole Foods is offering valet parking to anyone who drives a very expensive brand new SUV (Escalade or highter…no suburu) but the catch is that you have to pay in food stamps…… I guess they have seen all the stories about those shoppers and making the push to draw them in.
Kamchak
March 3rd, 2011
10:14 am
Spamming the ajc blogs with duplicate posts is a desperate cry for attention. Just sayin’.
Bosch
March 3rd, 2011
10:16 am
jm,
” I can read a report and draw different conclusions, or extend my conclusions from there. ”
Well, you obviously drew a wrong conclusion from that particular report:
Ensuring our ship of state sinks beneath the waves.
The Foundation whose report you posted disagreed with you on that.
“And most analysts say the revenue assumptions are overly optimistic.”
Well, jm, considering your track record with comprehension difficulties, I’ll consider the source.
Doggone/GA
March 3rd, 2011
10:17 am
“Spamming the ajc blogs with duplicate posts is a desperate cry for attention”
I like it when they beg people over and over to read them!
Bosch
March 3rd, 2011
10:18 am
Kamchak,
So, did I encourage the troll this morning?
AmVet
March 3rd, 2011
10:20 am
…does Jay Bookman consider these people “left wing nuts”???
Unless he lived in the parallel reality favored by some here, why would he?
Speaking of which, it is humorous have several of the poor cons here, are absolutely addicted to the “liberal rantings” of Bookman. Though they pretend to be outraged, they can barely control their impatience.
Very bizarre. One could not pay me to go to your garden variety right wing blog. I guess I’m just weird that way. If I went to a gathering where I disliked pretty much everybody and everything there, I sure as hell wouldn’t keep showing up day after day after day!
Kamchak
March 3rd, 2011
10:21 am
Bosch
Don’t think so as you rarely if ever drop in next door at CT’s.
We whooped Sir Alex yesterday, and boy is he miffed.
0311/0317 - 1811/1801
March 3rd, 2011
10:22 am
“Convicted RFK assassin “Sirhan Sirhan denied parole denied parole”
Do the crime do the crime, do the time do the time.
0311/0317 - 1811/1801
March 3rd, 2011
10:24 am
“The female condom, once the contraceptive that got little respect, seems to be making a comeback in U.S. cities, thanks to a new and improved design.
Health departments in Chicago, New York City and New York state also have joined with non-profit groups to distribute the female condom not only to women but also to GAY MEN (emphasis added), even though evidence about its safety and effectiveness in anal sex is lacking.”
Ah ………………. I have a question:
Then why is it called a “FEMALE” condom?
Shouldn’t it just be the generic “catcher condom”?
Bosch
March 3rd, 2011
10:26 am
Kamchak,
From your post, I thought jm might have dropped that “report” over somewhere else in his never ending quest for attention.
I haven’t seen any games since the Liverpool West Ham game on Sunday (?) — I wish there was an emoticon for someone shaking their head in dismay. But congrats on the victory!!!!
md
March 3rd, 2011
10:31 am
To comment on the budget……..talk is just that….talk.
A bit like the DOE being created in the 70″s to ween us off foreign oil……….they talked for 30+ years…
Kamchak
March 3rd, 2011
10:37 am
From your post, I thought jm might have dropped that “report” over somewhere else in his never ending quest for attention.
Nah, a far needier troll.
Fresh sheets upstairs, finally!
Adam
March 3rd, 2011
1:44 pm
0311: It should be called the “spooge bucket”
Josh Rosen
March 3rd, 2011
8:16 pm
I agree with you, Jay, that the ruling was correct. I’m encouraged that the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution and its amendments mean EXACTLY what they say, and are free and absolute…and I hope SCOTUS continues to rule this way, without a lot of “interpreting” or “balancing” of rights.
I do believe that this ruling has such widespread support because the target of the protesters were fallen soldiers. I hate to feel that way, but I do believe it. If the Westboro church were protesting at a gay wedding, for example, I’d bet that many of my liberal friends (who strongly supported this ruling) would have much more trouble viewing “God Hates Fags” signs…disgusting and intolerant as they may be…as legal, Constitutionally-protected free speech.