The First Amendment, According To Justice Scalia

This really pissed me off, just one of a number of things that have gotten stuck in my craw today.

Antonio Scalia gave a speech at a Mississippi high school on the wonder of the U.S. Constitution. When it was done, he ordered federal marshalls to confiscate the press’s recordings of his speech.

Excuse me, but who died and made Mr. Scalia king? I mean, if you give a speech in a public place, your words are fair game. I don’t care who you’re talking to or what the topic is, it’s fair game. Scalia is a public official who traveled to this event on the taxpayer’s dime. As taxpayers, we have a right to know what he said. Period.

In general, I support our judicial system. It’s not perfect, but its the best one we have. In an ideal world, our judicial system provides checks and balances to the abuses of government. Only, lately it seems the judicial system has forgotten its role. For example, Scalia should recuse himself from hunting buddy Cheney’s energy case, no matter what he says. Whatever illusion of impartiality that still exists between the Judicial and Executive branches vanishes if he does not. He can be friends with whomever he wants, but when that conflicts with his role, he must step aside.

Many speakers have guidelines against recording their speeches. Which is fine with me … unless they speak while they are still employed as a public servant. If you’re on the public’s dime, you have no right to restrict what you say, especially to a public audience.

How Scalia could praise the Constitution and then turn right around and restrict the freedom of the press just boggles my mind. The high schoolers he was addressing have a better grasp of the Constitution than Justice Scalia.

Just in case anyone needs a reminder:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.