"I would not look to the U.S. Constitution if I were drafting a constitution in 2012."
Ruth Bader Ginsberg, January 30, 2012
Egyptian Al-Hayat Television Interview
Even coming from one of the most entrenched liberals on the United States Supreme Court it was a shocker. During an interview aired last week on Egyptian television, Ruth Bader Ginsberg advised the Egyptian's against using the U.S. Constitution as guidance for their new effort at democratic self-governance. The American Constitution she said is too antiquated. Ginsberg instead suggested they look for something more modern like the South African -- "a great piece of work" -- or Canadian Constitutions as better models of perfection.
Like all federal officials, Ginsberg took an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same." Ginsberg's statement to the Egyptian's appears to be inconsistent with her oath to "support…defend….bear true faith and allegiance" the U.S. Constitution. It begs the question why Bill Clinton nominated someone with less than complete reverence for the genius of our founders, and why the Senate confirmed her?
Justice Ginsberg, if you are so dissatisfied with our Constitution, if you see it as so flawed, that you cannot bring yourself to bear true faith and allegiance to it then, please, just resign.
