Anthony Kennedy in Fed Up!, by Rick Perry

On Civil Rights: Right to define one's own concept of existence, even if gay

In 2003, the Supreme Court heard the case of two homosexual men who had been arrested and convicted under a Texas law that prohibited the act of sodomy. Reversing its decision from 17 years earlier (upholding a Georgia ban), the Court found a right to homosexual sodomy. Justice Kennedy explained why by digging back into a special concurrence from the "Casey" decision upholding abortion when he wrote, "At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life."

I don't even know what that means, but it certainly has nothing to do with the Constitution or the law.

The real concern lies with the direction the Court clearly wishes to take the nation yet refuses to admit. Gay marriage will soon be the policy of the United States, irrespective of federalism the Constitution, or the wishes of the American people. Not because it actually is protected in the Constitution, but because judges will declare it so.

Source: Fed Up!, by Gov. Rick Perry, p.109-110 Nov 15, 2010

On Crime: Death penalty for rape is cruel & unusual punishment

The Supreme Court case of "Kennedy v. Louisiana" involved a sentence of death for a man convicted of rape. The Supreme Court, in an opinion written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, ruled the law unconstitutional, citing the prohibition in the Eighth Amendment against cruel and unusual punishment. Now, considering that the Supreme Court in 1972 halted the death penalty despite the fact that the Constitution actually includes in its very text a provision for "capital crimes", only to allow it again a few years later, one might begin to question whether the Constitution had anything at all to do with their reasoning. In his infinite wisdom, Justice Kennedy wrote, "In most cases justice is not better served by terminating the life of the perpetrator rather than confining him and preserving the possibility that he and the system will find ways to allow him to understand the enormity of his offense." Really? What part of that is not making policy? Source: Fed Up!, by Gov. Rick Perry, p. 99-100 Nov 15, 2010

The above quotations are from Fed Up!: Our Fight to Save America from Washington. Click here for main summary page. Click here for a profile of Anthony Kennedy. Click here for Anthony Kennedy on all issues.
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Page last updated: Aug 18, 2011