By Ross Barkan 3/25 3:21pm

Law & Order

eric-schneiderman-facebook

Eric Schneiderman Predicts DOMA Will Be Ruled Unconstitutional

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman took to the airwaves today to denounce the Defense of Marriage Act on legal grounds, arguing that it will be ruled unconstitutional because it “discriminates” against New York State’s recognition of same-sex marriages. The high-profile case is set to go before the Supreme Court later this week.

“This is something that, without getting too far into the merits of the case, I think the Supreme Court will strike down,” Mr. Schneiderman said this morning on The Brian Lehrer Show. “This is an overreach by the federal government, this is inconsistent with our federalist system and I think this one will definitely fall.”  Read More

By Colin Campbell 12/12/12 9:36am

judgements

(photo msnbc.msn.com)

Christine Quinn to Antonin Scalia: ‘Don’t Compare Me to a Murderer Because I’m a Lesbian’

While selling his book at Princeton University earlier this week, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia defended moral opposition to gay marriage by asking, “If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder?” According to the Associated Press, Mr. Scalia said he wasn’t equating murder and homosexuality but rather making a logical argument entitled “reduction to the absurd,” but Council Speaker Christine Quinn, an openly gay candidate for mayor next year, wasn’t remotely satisfied with his explanation.

“It’s offensive!” Ms. Quinn exclaimed on Hardball yesterday evening. “Sexual orientation is who we are as people, it’s how we’re created if we’re the LGBT [community]. To compare that–even in a way you want to say was some philosophical exercise–to a heinous, horrible crime of murder? It’s just wrong. He can say it’s a slip of the tongue and that’s fine and we all of them; God knows I have. Just apologize. But don’t compare me to a murderer because I’m a lesbian. Just don’t do it. It’s wrong.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 7/16/12 8:55am

Ra Ra Riot

Jeffrey Toobin (Photo: CNN.com)

Lecture By CNN Analyst Reportedly Caused ‘Utter Mayhem’ in Martha’s Vineyard

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision upholding President Barack Obama’s healthcare law, CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin gave a lecture about the case at the Hebrew Center in the well-heeled beach haven of Martha’s Vineyard, however according to at least one attendee, the July 5 event turned into “utter mayhem.” Doreen Kinsman penned a letter to The Martha’s Vineyard Times describing how an “unruly mob” descended on Mr. Toobin’s event leading to “utter pandemonium” and a scene straight out of Lord of the Flies. Read More

By Colin Campbell 7/06/12 4:34pm

lgbt

(Photo: Neighborhoodr New York)

Court Rules Against Gay Marriage Foes in New York

Opponents of New York’s 2011 gay marriage law had sought to overturn the legislation under grounds that it violated New York’s Open Meetings Law, arguing the closed-door meetings held by New York State Senate Republicans with Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg constituted an illegal violation. But the State Supreme Court stymied their hopes today and ruled in favor of New York State and gay marriage supporters.

“Accordingly, we conclude that the judgment should be reversed insofar as appealed from, and judgment should be entered in favor of defendants declaring that defendant New York State Senate did notviolate the OML in enacting the [Marriage Equality Act] and that marriages performed thereunder are not invalid,” Acting Justice Robert Wiggins declared. Read More

By Hunter Walker 7/02/12 9:44am

Law & Order

John Yoo (Photo: Facebook)

Bush Administration Lawyer Thinks Healthcare Ruling May Allow Government to ‘Force Us’ to ‘Eat Organic Kale’

John Yoo, a former Department of Justice attorney in the administration of George W. Bush who wrote the so-called “torture memos” that provided the legal rationale for the government to use “enhanced interrogation techniques” such as waterboarding and sleep deprivation is not pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision upholding President Barack Obama’s healthcare law. Mr. Yoo, who is now a professor at Berkeley law school, penned an editorial in which appeared in Saturday’s edition of the Wall Street Journal in which he speculated the healthcare ruling may allow the government to “force us to buy electric cars, eat organic kale, or replace oil heaters with solar panels.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/29/12 10:06am

obamacare

Mayor Bloomberg (Photo: Getty)

Bloomberg Questions Whether Supreme Court Ruling Really Changed Anything

Among the many politicians who rushed out statements opposing or supporting the Supreme Court’s decision that President Obama’s health care legislation was constitutional, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was not among them. On John Gambling’s radio show today, Mr. Bloomberg explained why he’s “not sure if after all the yelling and screaming and all the politics around this, there’s really any great change.”

“Good or bad, at least it takes away the argument that this law was unconstitutional,” he began to describe his reaction to the ruling. “It does not mean that future governments in Washington can’t change the law or repeal it or something.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/28/12 1:59pm

Diagnoses

President Obama (Photo: Getty)

Obama on the Healthcare Ruling: ‘Twenty Years From Now, We’ll Be Better Off’

President Obama responded to the Supreme Court decision upholding his healthcare law with an address that was broadcast live from the White House earlier this afternoon. With Mitt Romney and top Republicans in Congress vowing to repeal the law, the president encouraged people to move forward rather than trying to “refight the political battles of two years ago or go back to the way things were.”

“The highest court in the land has now spoken. We will continue to implement this law and we’ll work together to improve on it where we can,” President Obama said. “With today’s announcement, it’s time for us to move forward to implement and, where necessary, improve on this law. Now’s the time to keep our focus on the most urgent challenge of our time–putting people back to work paying down our debt….I’m as confident as ever that, when we look back five years from now, ten years from now, or twenty years from now, we’ll be better off because we had the courage to pass this law.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 6/28/12 12:44pm

wheee what a great day

Tish James speaking at the rally.

Living Wage Advocates Celebrate Mayoral Override Vote (and Supreme Court Decision!!)

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Come, come, ready?” Councilwoman Tish James hurriedly exclaimed when we started to ask her about today’s Supreme Court ruling on health care reform before a rally celebrating the vote on living wage legislation coming later today.

“So, today I like Roberts. I’m happy that the mandate was upheld. This is a great day for democracy, it’s a great day for the budget, it’s a great day for childcare and after school programs,” she answered. “So, overall, today’s a proud day!” Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/28/12 12:43pm

Fighting Words

Mitt Romney (Photo: Getty)

Mitt Romney: ‘If We Want to Get Rid of Obamacare, We’re Going to Have to Replace President Obama’

Mitt Romney responded to the Supreme Court ruling upholding President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law with an address in Washington D.C. in which he explained why he thinks “Obamacare” is “bad law.”

“Let’s make clear that we understand what the Court did and did not do. What the court did today was say that Obamacare does not violate the Constitution. What they did not do was say that Obamacare is good law or that it’s good policy,” Mr. Romney said. “Obamacare was bad policy yesterday, it’s bad policy today. Obamacare was bad law yesterday, it’s bad law today.”

He also said the Court’s decision showed the president needs to be replaced in the next election.

“Our mission is clear,” said Mr. Romney. “If we want to get rid of Obamacare, we’re going to have to replace President Obama. My mission is to make sure we do exactly that.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/28/12 11:18am

Cash Money

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney Cashing In On Supreme Court Healthcare Ruling [Update]

According to Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul the Supreme Court decision upholding President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law led to a windfall for Mitt Romney. Ms. Saul told The Politicker supporters donated at least $100,000 in the 50 minutes between the immediate aftermath of the ruling, which was issued at approximately 10:10 a.m. Shortly before 11:30, Ms. Saul said the total donations had reached over $300,000. By 1:30 p.m., Ms. Saul claimed the Romney campaign had raised $1 million following the ruling.

“Fundraising for @MittRomney ticks up to $300k since decision came down. #FullRepeal,” Ms. Saul wrote on Twitter. Read More