The Black Republican

While you're busy mourning the death of Judge Rehnquist, you might want to know his track record of some of the basic rights we have today that he tried to fight against up until his death. Just a thought:

Unafraid of standing alone, Rehnquist often wrote one-man dissents, opposing desegregation and increased rights for women and immigrants.

While living in Phoenix in the 50s, he was an active Republican Party official, and became known as a strong opponent of racial integration in schools. In the 1964 presidential race, he campaigned for Barry Goldwater.

He voted consistently against affirmative action, dissenting in cases upholding the use of busing to integrate public schools, and in 1983 was the sole dissenter in a case that upheld the federal government's policy of denying a tax deduction for Bob Jones University because of its racist policies.

He voted against the right to an abortion in the landmark 1973 case of Roe v. Wade, arguing states' rights, and pushed to overturn the decision the rest of his career.

He also argued against the notion that the Constitution demands separation between church and state, writing that the idea "should be frankly and explicitly abandoned."

He voted consistently to give police more powers and to limit the rights of criminal defendants.

In his court opinions and in public speeches, he endorsed speeding up the criminal appeals process, especially in death penalty cases.

Ch,

You are right, he did have a consistent handle on original intent, and the powers granted by the Constitution. Too bad more Justices can't comprehend the document.