Orrin Hatch has an "Empathy" problem
By John Amato Tuesday May 05, 2009 10:00am
Who knew the word "empathy" was such an evil word? I certainly didn't.
But apparently the King of Vitamin Supplements, Orrin Hatch, was completely offended when President Obama used it when he discussed his attributes in a Supreme Court judge. It's much worse than if the President threw an f-bomb his way' evidently, he needed to be talked down by the President himself or who knows what he might have done.
Hatch was on Hardball and needed to tell Matthews that he was reassured by Obama that the word that the late George Carlin would have added to his list of dirty words was not really a curse word after all.
Hatch: I have no problem with judges having a heart, wanting to do what's right and wanting to live within the legal constraints that do exist. When they start substituting their own personal policy preferences for what the law really is then that's the misuse of empathy, and a person like that shouldn't be sitting on the bench.
He might want to check Scalia's heart if he's fine with judges having one, but I'm glad he cleared that all up for us.
There's a story out tonight that President Obama may pick a Supreme Court nominee as early as this week, which doesn't surprise me much (and I still think, more than ever, that it will be federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor). What does surprise me, a little, is this bizarre interview with Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, recounting his phone conversation with the president:
Hatch raised concerns initially that Obama was using “buzz words” for a liberal activist justice by suggesting he wanted someone who had “empathy” for the country’s problems. But Obama told Hatch “that was not what he meant, and I take him at his word ... and that he assured me that he would not be picking a radical or an extremist for the court that he was very pragmatic in his approach and that he would pick somebody who would abide by the rule of law.”Really! I mean heaven forbid we had someone up there in a black robe actually caring about the problems and everyday concerns of Americans, as opposed to the button-down corporatist toadies we mostly have in there now. Did you know that "empathy" is an evil code word for "socialist," because I did not know that. In fact, here is the definition of "empathy" from Wikipedia:
Empathy is the capability to share your feelings and understand another's emotion and feelings. It is often characterized as the ability to "put oneself into another's shoes," or in some way experience what the other person is feeling.
I'll remember to note that when the word empathy is used again, what Orrin Hatch is hearing is "dirty f*&king hippie."
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Hatch can go to fuckin hell too!
To the Regressive Party, words like empathy, cooperation, brotherhood and compassion stir up negative feelings in their reptilian brains. They are reminders of how far-removed they are from humanity.
How about Anita Hill. She's a woman. She knows about discrimination and harassment in the workplace. She is a bright lawyer. hmmm
poetic justice?
Janet Reno also comes to mind. Can you imagine the sound of the Regressive's heads collectively exploding?
built a narrative around her.
We'd be picking brain matter out of the carpet for decades.
If Republican heads exploded, not so much.
Now, if their spleens blew...
If Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas were on the Supreme Court together, that would be the funniest thing to happen in government since Gerald Ford.
...just to make sure he isn't an illegally terran-bound skinjob. One can never be too sure.
;-)
Maybe we could get Hatch to tell us about his mother?
Even Roy Batty had more empathy when his time came.
...time to die.
Orin is another wacko for the religious right who will cry a river over Roe v. Wade which was decided over thirty years ago. Go to hell Orin, and all you morons.
Orin Hatch is a Mormon which is another way of saying Moron. He's going to get his own planet one day with many wives to impregnate and populate the surface of his planet. This is what the Mormons believe. What will he do when his planet becomes populated with the faithful and ignorant? Hmmm. Thou does protest too much. Your ignorance is clear, Orin. Your motives are clear, Orin. Sit down and remain seated. If you have something to offer that isn't fear of aborted babies in the streets or similar, please contribute. Until then, sit down and listen to the adults.
I appreciate that J.Amato and company are taking ad funds from the confidence men that were Joseph Smith and L. Ron Hubbard and their descendants. Keep up the good work Mr. Amato. Freedom is also freedom from religion. Religious persecution has not ended. Hatch and his ilk and their transparent ploy for power but really they are grasping at relevance. After an embarrassing display of Reagan, HW, yes Clinton, too, and W the crowning achievement of immodest sociopathology, I'm ready for some dramatic change. Go further!
You don't know how Google Analytics works, do you?
Let us all discuss Bush vs. Gore 2000. Now that was some legislating from the bench.
Can you say "Activist Judge"? I knew you could.
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When Hatch said, "the rule of law", I expected him to go out in a puff of hypocrisy.
I did some more reading on Hill and by god she is the perfect pick!
A professor of social policy, law, and women's studies, Hill was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar in 1980. Hill began her law career as an associate with the Washington, D.C., firm of Wald, Harkrader & Ross. In 1981 she served as counsel to the assistant secretary of the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. From 1982 to 1983, she moved on to serve as assistant to the chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Clarence Thomas (see below). Hill became a professor at Oral Roberts University, where she actively taught from 1983 to 1986. In 1986, she joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. [1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Hill
Wow, I am so totally behind her for so many wrong reasons...
The Shadenfreude, reading about the deaths-by-apoplexy, hearing the unrestrained rage, seeing the poorly-veiled racism, reading all the fabricated charges against her...
One can only hope.
any credentials she may have, no thanks.
I know she had to deal with a shitty hand, but that does not mean I want her anywhere near the bench. Two wrongs, a right make not....
She's have to work with that POS Thomas.
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"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Norm Coleman
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - John Boehner
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Mitch McConnell
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Michelle Bachmann
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Rich Cantor
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Jeb Bush
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Bobby Jindal
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Mark Levin
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Sean Hannity
"Waaaaah...waaaaaaaah...waaaaaaah." - Rush Limbaugh
Limbaugh sounds more like "ooiiiiikkkkk.... oinnnnkkkk.... ooooiiiiiinnnnnnk"
Have you seen him recently????? OMG - he looks like he needs to be taken down to the de-juicing room for de-juicing.
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You forgot KKKarl Rove!
We're all trying to forget Karl.
preferences for what the law really is..."
The Law says that abortion is legal. It also says that torture is illegal. You can either be interested in the law, or you be interested in distracting people with lies and flasehoods in an effort to lower your tax rate.
We all know what Sen. Hatch has chosen to build a career around.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/lett...
Brilliant!
Yes! -- it's great!
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Hatch lays out a perfectly good case for why Alito, Scalia, Thomas and Roberts should be impeached.
Clean the shit out of your underwear and shut up.
Nuremburg established the lack of empathy was pure evil.
Go look it up ,JACKASS
Colbert did a great thing about this "code" word last night. He showed different repubs talking about empathy being a code word. It was funny as hell.
The republicans are just going to have to go out and buy the Obama de-coder ring if they want the real scoop.
While his brother craps his pants a little boy spells out:
B..S..U..R..E..T..O..D..R..I..N..K..Y..O..U..R..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TppRjknOryk&eu...
I don't have to watch the youtube to know what you are talking about. It's the Christmas Story and the next word is "Oveltine"...right?
n/t
Orphan Annie.
...losing two consecutive major elections give them the power to make demands to their conquerors. Once a homeless man asked me for money, and I gave two dollars. He looked at me and said "that's all?" I took the money I gave him back and told him to get lost. It's time to treat the GOP(who have the same leverage and appreciation as that homeless dude) like the losers that they are.
If situations were reverse, the GOP would be showing us no mercy.
Pretty tough to relate to what others feel if it's all about you, huh Orrin? Maybe that's why your party of sociopathic misfits and cranks has such a problem.
Yes! Thank you for your comment.
Too bad the President can't tell Hatch to go enjoy his "shit taco" and leave the pick of a judge to him.
back in the late 90s i ended up 'jamming' with hatch's nephew sitting on a picnic table in sequoia national park. his nephew seemed (understandably) embarrassed to admit that hatch was his uncle. seems that even family members would rather not be associated with this flake.
i have an empathy problem when it comes to hatch
If Sen. Hatch wants to see empathy in the judiciary, he need look no further than Roberts, Scalia, Alito and Thomas. These guys evidence constant empathy for the "needs" of the US corporatocracy. And with Jeff Sessions now the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, I'm sure there will be a lot of empathy
for the "good old days" of pre-Civil Rights America. Of course, something tells me that's not exactly the kind of empathy Obama was thinking of.....vive la difference.
you lost the election --or does that mean jesus let you lose the election?
your party is shrinking. you want to influence the scotus choice? or make someone think you have influence? by changing the focus of discussions on corporate media? pathetic but predictable.
Would the republicans want a judge on the bench who did not have empathy for the country's problems?
My guess is Hatch still isn't sure of the meaning of empathy, since he like the majority of Republicans now occupying public office seem to be sorely lacking in same.
Personally, I think he's just annoyed because he knows now with Obama in office he'll never get the SCOTUS appt. that he has coveted for years.
I live in Utah--please don't hold that against me--and count Orrin "the wiener" Hatch as the phoniest, most sanctimonious politician I've ever been exposed to.
His treatment of Anita Hill during the Thomas confirmation was shameful!! Who gives a flying F**K what this guy cares about!!
Is the word "sanctimonious" a code word for incredible ass hole?
I think "sanctimonious" is code for "he talks out of his asshole"
Well, I got the last half of it right. My Hatch de-coder ring must have malfunctioned.
better drink more ovaltine!
Orrin's ring would probably say drink more Milk of Magnesia
for putting the "King of Supplements" link in your post.
Working to remove access to dietary supplements, in effect starving people who have special dietary needs due to genetic disposition or exposure to industrial toxins, is indeed an example of lack of empathy. This lack of empathy riddles our government institutions.
... because he doesn't have any.
He walked out of Senate hearings on assault weapons legislation in the middle of James Sposato's testimony. Sposato's wife had been killed in the 101 California shootings, and he flew to D.C. for the hearings. His baby daughter was in a carrier beside him as he testified.
But that was too much for Hatch.
Bastard.
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President Obama under Article 2, Section 2, Clause 2 could appoint as many Supreme Court Judges as he likes, as no number is mentioned in the article required a certain amount of Justices. Then have a "Up or Down" vote in the Senate using the Republican Senators mantra or whine, they used when Bush appointed Roberts/
Alito.
Under Clause 3 in the same article and section, President Obama could also Recess Appoint a vacancy on the Supreme Court when the Senate is in recess. That Justice would serve until the end of that particular Session of Congress.
Just look at Bushs recess appointment of John Bolton as the the US Ambassador to the UN.
All the cards are held by President Obama,start crying trolls!
And apparently you are correct! The number of judges on the Supreme Court is NOT stated in the Constitution.
I know FDR expanded the Court, so it's not exactly clear why other presidents haven't done the same.
hmm ..
that there is no mention in the Constitution about the number of justices on the supreme court. But wrong in the statement that the President can appoint as many as he likes. Congress sets the number of justices Per article III sec I. And the Judiciary Act of 1869 set the number of justices at 9. And FDR did not expand the court, he planned to attempt to, under his plan the maximum size of the court would of been 15, the base of 9 with one additional justice for each one over the age of 70 yr and 6mo.
Golden Rule - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
.. sounds a lot like "empathy" to me ..
I loathe phoney Christians.
Speaking of whom - this Thursday is "National Prayer Day" and the phoney Christians have all their panties in a wad cuz that meanie Obama hasn't turned over the White House to them (like GW did) for their Prayer Orgy.
I recall Matthew 5 or maybe 6 where Jesus warns about the HYPOCRITES who pray in public.
(PS. I take it for granted everyone knows Hatch is a "Mormon" .. with 2 m's.)
"... do not pray in public, like the hypocrites do. Instead, go to your room and pray in secret. And your Father, hearing you in secret, shall reward you openly."
Part of the Sermon on the Mount, and where Christ teaches the Our Father.
And you know what? It's the very first of Jesus' teachings that the Evangelical Crusaders encourage their victims to disobey, leading them in group prayer.
From there it's all downhill - Jesus didn't really mean Do Not Kill, Love Thy Neighbor, etc.
PLUS .. by getting them to join in Group Prayer, the leaders of the group prayer program the subcounsciouses of their victims. Were one to follow Jesus' teaching of "praying in secret" one's subconscious would instead open to the universe - same as meditation taught in any of the other great religions.
... there's Elijah's search to hear the voice of God. He goes out to the storm and is assailed by the wind, the thunder, the lightning, but does not find God's voice in the noise and tumult.
In the wake of the storm, there is a moment of silence, and Elijah hears God's voice in that whisper-quiet moment.
WTF were you thinkin, standing out in the middle of a storm like that? Waddya nuts?
Orrin Hatch has an "Empathy" problem.
Amen.
I bet if the President had said he was looking for a judge who showed "apathy" for the country's problems, Orrin would be fine with that.
Empathy is a pretty basic sign of character, missing from the Republican representative. without empathy one's character would be in question. That's why Republicans will always trot out the "character" label on a tight schedule. They have no character so they proclaim everyone else has no character either - complete projection. That's why they insist character must be a code for something different - empathy is a strange concept to Republicans.
....a feeling of compassion and concern for another". No wonder all the Rethugs are having a problem with this word..........that gene was left out of the conservative reptilian brain. Empathy is as foreign to them as, oh, say..........logic.
would like to be judged by a robot, or a computer?
I assumed he would only if it had been programmed by the same people that power the electronic voting machines.
One of my pet theories is that some humans evolved from gorillas and some evolved from chimps.
Gorilla males are all roley-poley with the young ones, laid back, munching leaves.
Chimp males have a strict hierarchy. One top male, all others kept in line by savage attacks. And they attack in groups.
I realize there's no scientific basis for my notion that we humans have two distinct lines of evolution, but regardless it IS true that human males (and females!) tend to display one or the other type of attitudes and behaviors.
... the ones on top look down and see nothing but a bunch of smiling faces.
... the ones on the bottom look up and see nothing but a bunch of assholes.
Notice the bananas sitting at the top of the tree going rotten.
I've read that Sociopaths actually have their own definitions for words. Re-Thugs, are of course, nearly all sociopaths - while Hatch-et Face surely is.
So it makes sense when you realize that they don't actually KNOW what empathy is. This is in part because they simply can't comprehend the concept and are incapable of it.
They're more the bug-on-a-pin kind of people. Very dispassionate in general.
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i concur.
from your link:
A Republican:
Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
Authoritarian
Secretive
Paranoid
Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
Conventional appearance
Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
Clean the shit out of your underwear and shut up.
Nuremburg established the lack of empathy was pure evil.
Go look it up ,JACKASS
The right-wing meme on this is "empathy is usually a code word for activist judge". What about that word "usually"? In what sense is it "usually" so? The implication here is that lots of people use the word that way, to give it a double meaning; otherwise the "usually" wouldn't apply.
So who's doing that? Other than the wingnuts passing this meme around, I can't see anybody using the word that way. In fact, it isn't a word that gets used much at all in everyday speech, partly I think because most people don't really know what it means. (I've always found it a bit fuzzy, myself.) So where is this crowd of spectral somebodies using "empathy" to mean "activist judge"?
I'm going to go the unpopular route here, but I don't think empathy should have anything to do with this. I would hope that as a human being, any candidate would have empathy for their fellow man, but as a judge, I would hope they could ignore that empathy and follow the rule of law.
Its not up to judges to determine the will or mood of the people - that is the job of your political representatives. I tend to think if someone is chosen on their "empathy" then the hope is that they will be sympathetic to your cause and could quite possibly be an activist judge.
However, I don't think Obama was using empathy as a code word. In fact, the only code word here is "activist judge" and it is the right who use this one to mean a judge that is going to make everyone get abortions and marry the same sex.
yup , another compassionate conservative , what an F'n oxymoron that is ! Something is drastically wrong with these rotten SOB's , they are dead inside I swear . God forbid these scum bags EVER regain power . If there is no room for empathy and good old common sense and reason in the rule of law and in the Supreme court what the fuck are we ? Mindless and heartless robots ? Ban empathetic justices but right wing federalist society hacks are just fine is that it Hatch ? I get your point "Manic " but respectfully don't agree . You take the right wing political hacks on the Supreme court , do you think they don't apply their ideology and bias to their " view " or "reading" of the Constitution ? Those F'ers are just what I said , political hacks . A liberal on the Supreme court with common sense and a heart who is concerned about fairness and justice and the Constitution doesn't bother me at all, seems to me that's one of the main reasons there are laws to begin with ,not all but most are for the benefit of society and people are they not ? We'll never get away from the human element and biased decision making in the supreme court , not possible , they are human beings like the rest of us .
No Empathy is the big problem all modern republicans have. Well empathy and insanity.
republicanism is a mental disorder.
They're all sociopaths.
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Hatch-et face's problems go far beyond his lack of empathy.
This man has no soul.
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Empathy is an emotion a psychopath does not have.
The Mormons(like Hatch) are some of the most detestable men in Congress. Only one of 16 has ever defended their country and that doesn't include Willard Romney.
You don't have to kill for your God to have 70 Virgins when your church will provide you with all the young girls you need.
Does Orin Hatch mean to say that Compassionate Conservatives don't have empathy?
And all this time I thought they at least empathized with the unborn.
Guess I'll have to rethink what it means to be pro-life.
Could it be that banning abortion is merely a means of controlling the sexuality of women and that Republicans couldn't care less what happens to anybody once they are born in sin?
A lack of empathy amongst our Justices has caused so much damage over the years.
What if empathy was shown in these cases?
http://progressnotcongress.org/blog/?p=731
It's empathy and bad if you are a liberal/progressive, but it's compassion and good if you are a conservative. Orrin's external visage is decaying in front of our eyes to match the lack of humanity that exists deep inside of him. There are two Americas, one with hearts and brains, and the other with greed and contempt for humanity. Empathy is not a four letter word, Orrin. Maybe you need to wander in the wilderness for a while.
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