Franken Quizzes Sotomayor on Perry Mason — and Actual Constitutional Issues

[babylonsister]

http://washingtonindependent.com/51193/franken-quizzes-sotomayor-on-perry-mason-and-actual-constitutional-issues

Franken Quizzes Sotomayor on Perry Mason — and Actual Constitutional Issues
By Daphne Eviatar 7/15/09 3:50 PM


For a comedian-turned-politician with no formal legal training, the newest senator and Judiciary Committee member, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) asked Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor some of the most complex but elucidating questions about Supreme Court cases we’ve heard yet. After bonding with Sotomayor over their mutual love of the Perry Mason show as kids, he launched into a series of probing questions ranging from whether there’s a right to Internet access, to constitutional interpretation in voting rights cases, express versus implied rights in the Constitution, and of course the all-important question about a woman’s right to an abortion.

And Sotomayor actually answered some of them.

In particular, asked by Franken whether she believes the Supreme Court’s recent decision invalidating part of the Voting Rights Act was an “activist” decision that overrode the intent of Congress and the language of the Constitution, she declined to comment on the Supreme Court’s opinion, but instead pointed out her own ruling in a previous case involving the Voting Rights Act, strongly implying that she thought the Supreme Court had indeed gone too far.

In the case she decided, “I suggested that issues of changes to the Voting Rights Act should be left to Congress in the first instance,” she said. That was one of the most direct answers on an issue likely to come before the court that she’s given yet.

And Franken wins points for asking another roundabout question meant to elicit her views on “judicial activism” — a phrase Sotomayor said she doesn’t like to use.

“How often have you decided a case on an argument or a question that the parties have not briefed?” asked Franken. This question goes to the heart of the Ricci reverse discrimination case, where the Supreme Court on its own set out a new standard for lower courts to follow, then refused to send the case back to the courts to let the parties brief how it applied to the facts at hand.

Sotomayor could not remember a single instance of doing that as a judge.

She also couldn’t remember, when Franken asked her as he wound up his questioning, the name of the one case that the prosecutor on the Perry Mason show won. To which Franken replied: “Didn’t they prepare you at the White House for this hearing?”

[NoPasaran]

1. It's ironic that for all the fauxrage of the GOP for the comedian-turned-senator

Franken shows himself to be a serious, sober questioner while Sessions and crew play clown.

[babylonsister]

2. It's a thing of beauty! His soberness made most of the rethugs

look like clowns.

[wildflower]

3. I don't know, I think we needed to hear some more about...

the "wise latina" comment.

Kidding! :)

I think they both did great.

[hlthe2b]

6. Franken is very smart... most highly successful comedians are

Add to this his very useful learning cycle on AAR with some tremendously well-informed guests.

He's a keeper, that one! I'm very proud of him and predict his reelection will not be at question.

[chaplainM]

18. Perfect Math SAT score

Good with words, good with numbers.

[HughMoran]

13. I knew he was chomping at the bit to show off his strengths

He's going to be quite the Senator I think.

[Puglover]

4. Randi Rhodes

offered up nothing but nastiness about Al's questioning. She really needs to build a bridge here. She just ends up sounding shrill,bitter and very jealous.

Al did fine.

[hlthe2b]

9. is a jealous harpy.... sorry, to fans... I once was (at least somewhat)

Shrill, indeed.

[XOKCowboy]

12. Same here.

You'd think that with all of the Repug smugness and alienating Hispanics/Women in the Sotomayor hearing, the Cheney coverup and health care she'd have plenty of material for her show without slamming Al or even mentioning him.

I used to be a fan but no more. I'm very much a Senator Al Franken fan.

[KittyWampus]

11. the self-immolating stickfigure! I'd forgotten all about it.

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. I have been really disappointed I have not been able to tune in to the hearings.

I really have enjoyed reading the descriptions. Thanks for posting.

[callous taoboy]

7. That's one wise ex-SNL writer!

I shook Senator Franken's hand at a book signing for "Lies and the Lying Liars..." back in '03 and told him, "Thanks for calling bullshit on these so-called journalists."

[spanone]

8. they''ll never understand that being a 'clown' is serious business.

[XOKCowboy]

10. Love Al. He knows his stuff but still ends with a good joke...

Al's not just a comedian. If you listened to him on AAR and/or read his books you know that he does his homework and is serious about the rule of law. I think that he'll surprise a lot of people now that he's finally seated.

[alice silas]

14. re: Petty Mason; he DIDN't need to do that on national TV.

I am 10 to 1 outnumbered by people in my neighborhood and relatives that voted for coleman. My phone has been ringing and ringing about this stunt. Come on Al, PLEASE be a Senator!

[Spazito]

16. Gosh, unhappy with Senator Franken, unhappy with universal healthcare...

darn, I hope things brighten up for you real soon!

[Lars39]

17. Dude, you might as well glow in the dark.

[blondeatlast]

21. Dammit.

:spray:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

19. LAMEST excuse to feign outrage I've seen in a LONG time.

One sentence of levity among what, one hundred of serious business? Please. Who do you think you're fooling?

[SoCalDem]

20. Poor Alice... come back when you're 10 feet tall..

took the wrong pill today?

[blondeatlast]

22. Poor Alice, your lasting legacy on DU will be so fitting. nt

[callous taoboy]

23. Sniff test... Doesn't pass.

[callous taoboy]

24. She coughed this up earlier...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6077345#6077381

[zbdent]

15. but what will the media focus on?

"Comedian makes debut focusing on TV character" ...