‘A Giant of the Law’: Reactions Pour In as People Mourn Scalia’s Passing
The news that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has died immediately shocked the political world, and the reactions immediately poured in.
First off, Chief Justice John Roberts released this statement on his colleague’s death:
Statement from Chief Justice John Roberts on Scalia pic.twitter.com/9XznZiBccK
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) February 13, 2016
A White House spokesman delivered a short statement (we will update this post when President Obama himself issues a statement):
"The President and First Lady extend their deepest condolences to Justice Scalia’s family,” the White House’s @Schultz44 says. More to come.
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) February 13, 2016
A great many conservatives heralded him as a giant that will be hard to replace:
Politics aside, we should all die full of years, with 28 grandchildren, in our sleep after quail hunting. Antonin Scalia RIP.
— Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) February 13, 2016
A giant of the law, good writing and great humor Justice Scalia will be greatly greatly missed.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) February 13, 2016
Reading Scalia's opinions was the reason I became a lawyer. Understood the political philosophy behind every theory of law.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) February 13, 2016
Senate must simply refuse to appoint anybody. Would be outrageous to replace a giant like Scalia with a minnow like Sotomayor.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) February 13, 2016
Scalia's greatest dissent, of many fabulous dissents – https://t.co/1ulKYZpMz5 RIP Justice Scalia
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 13, 2016
Multiple reports now that Justice Antonin Scalia has died. My condolences to his loved ones.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) February 13, 2016
A titan. An overwhelming intellect. A brilliant, funny, cutting writer. #Scalia
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) February 13, 2016
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Jeb Bush, and Ben Carson have already issued statements on Scalia’s passing:
.@GovAbbott statement on death of Antonin Scalia pic.twitter.com/Y8NeuMWubm
— Evan Smith (@evanasmith) February 13, 2016
Ted Cruz issues statement on Scalia's death pic.twitter.com/S1SMazFAv1
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) February 13, 2016
Rubio on Scalia. pic.twitter.com/CCuItE3pNK
— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) February 13, 2016
— E McMorris-Santoro (@EvanMcSan) February 13, 2016
Trump issues statement on Scalia passing pic.twitter.com/o48PCdDriX
— John Santucci (@JTSantucci) February 13, 2016
Statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia: pic.twitter.com/xazj9dDd5c
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 14, 2016
Jeb Bush statement on Scalia: "I often said he was my favorite justice" pic.twitter.com/c5JiDOrLZh
— Betsy Woodruff (@woodruffbets) February 14, 2016
Statement from Ben Carson on passing of Justice Scalia. Wonder how many Republicans would say this if Prez was GOP? pic.twitter.com/qzTf1zZ5hK
— Marshall Zelinger (@7Marshall) February 14, 2016
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement saying, like some candidate above, that the next president should be the one to appoint Scalia’s replacement:
McConnell pic.twitter.com/SmNE7iTmkp
— E McMorris-Santoro (@EvanMcSan) February 13, 2016
Former President George W. Bush released a statement on his passing as well:
President George W Bush releases statement on Antonin Scalia, calling him a "towering figure" on the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/W6WDk8odv0
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 13, 2016
Now, naturally, there were some not-very-positive things posted on social media from people who did not like Cruz. Glenn Greenwald made the case that his decisions were so consequential that “don’t speak ill of the dead” does not apply, and he got some blowback for it:
Don't even try to enforce the inapplicable don't-speak-ill-of-the-dead "rule" for the highly polarizing, deeply consequential Antonin Scalia
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 13, 2016
It's a fine rule of etiquette for when private individuals die: it does not apply to powerful. influential officials https://t.co/68rEYF26Je
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 13, 2016
Why is why it's 100% valid to debate & criticize that record & 100% invalid to demand one-sided praise for it. https://t.co/qDL8JezxED
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 13, 2016
Go fuck yourself. https://t.co/HrXAt7dLBB
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 13, 2016
@ggreenwald Pull your pants back up, ghoul.
— jon gabriel (@exjon) February 13, 2016
@kwgnt If you hate her and think she's a destructive presence in the world, then there's no reason you should pretend otherwise.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 13, 2016
@ggreenwald "He's polarizing so it's totes cool if you celebrate his death." Good grief you're an idiot.
— Robby Boswell (@Robby_Boswell) February 13, 2016
@dankennedy_nu @jackshafer And why a 24-hour rule and not a 12-hour or 48-hour rule? Such an arbitrary, inapplicable "etiquette" standard.
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 13, 2016
[image via screengrab]
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