Justice Antonin Scalia has once again hauled out the “get over it” line when referring to the 2000 election and the part he played in stopping votes in Florida from being counted. As if the suspension of democracy was something to be forgotten instead of something to learned from.
His comments came in an interview with 60 Minutes that will be broadcast this Sunday as he pitches a new book on appellate persuasion:
“I say nonsense,” Scalia said, when asked about critics who say the 5-4 ruling was based on politics and not justice. “Get over it. It’s so old by now.”
But I’m a bit uncertain as to why it made headlines, since he has trotted out this routine before to defend his conduct. It was reported back in January 2007 (See: A Response to Justice Scalia on Bush v. Gore and Scalia and Alito Hit the Lecture Circuit)
A few others on the subject:
- 60 Minutes: Scalia On Bush v. Gore 2000: “Get Over It” (Crooks and Liars)
- Scalia—‘Mister Justice’— Defends Bush v. Gore… (Buck Naked Politics)
- Scalia on 2000 election ruling: ‘Get over it. It’s so old now.’ (USA Today)
- Sure, We’ll Get Over It When Conservatives “get over” Roe v. Wade (Shakesville)
- His Historical Legacy (Hullabaloo)
- Scalia wants everyone to ‘get over it’ (Carpetbagger Report)
- Scalia to country get over it (Where’s the Outrage)
Updated with a few more:
- Scalia on Bush v. Gore “Get over it” (The Political Voices of Women)
- Why People Hate Antonin Scalia (Economist.com)
- Scalia’s Old Material (BLT: The Blog of Legal Times)