Restaurant owner had ‘right’ to ask Sanders to leave

Case differences

Regarding “Sanders says she was told to leave Virginia restaurant” (June 23): If Sara Huckabee Sanders believes she has been discriminated against for being asked to leave a restaurant, she can do what all U.S. citizens can do – file a claim with the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. (She might be surprised by how few attorneys still work there.)

To win her case, Sanders must show she belongs to a class of people that have been accorded protection by statute and ruling. Political appointees, even female ones, are not protected by civil rights laws. The restaurant’s owner did not discriminate against Sanders based on her belonging to a discriminated group, like African-Americans, religious minorities or LGBT people. By law, the owner has a right to kick Sanders out.

In contrast, the Colorado baker refused to serve two gay men because they were gay, a clear legal violation. However, the Supreme Court subverted the law by finding that a Colorado Civil Rights Commission member displayed a lack of respect for the baker’s religious beliefs. That’s the difference in the two incidents.

What should concern conservatives and liberals alike is that the court subverted the established law. When political beliefs trump legal precedent, we all lose.

America’s birthday

Today Americans all over the country will celebrate our nation's 242nd birthday. We will cook out, block party, go boating, go to the beach, watch a parade and later attend our local fireworks displays.

I hope every American can also take the time to reflect what this day truly means. It was on this day in 1776 that brave men declared themselves to create a new nation – the United States of America. It was only a dream at the time but here, 242 years later, America still stands as a beacon of hope to millions all over the globe.

Hold Justice vote

Regarding “Trump court pick must be ‘considered fairly and not subjected to personal attacks,’ McConnell says” (June 27): I am a constituent living in Raleigh. I am asking Congress to hold Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to his word.

In 2016, Senator McConnell tweeted, “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.” This was true then and is true today in 2018. We deserve a voice in the choice of our next Justice. I respectfully request that Congress fight for our voice.

Please demand that there be no vote on a potential Supreme Court Justice until after the American people have had a chance to vote in November. No vote on a Supreme Court Justice until a new Senate is sworn in next January.

Delay vote

Regarding “Trump begins interviews for Supreme Court pick” (July 3): It is unreasonable for this president to nominate another Supreme Court Justice until the Mueller investigation is complete. This investigation has turned up guilty pleas and indictments.

We know for sure that Russia and possibly three other countries meddled in our election. Trump may not have won without the illegal intervention of foreign powers. His foreign policy appears to be controlled by Putin himself. Republicans have blocked Supreme Court nominees for far less.

It is still incomprehensible to me that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell managed to block President Obama’s nominee. And Sen. Richard Burr, while running for re-election in 2016, actually said, “If Hillary becomes president, I am going to do everything I can do to make sure four years from now, we’ve still got an opening on the Supreme Court.”

This is not a game. Why on earth would we allow this president to nominate a Supreme Court justice when he himself shows such flagrant disregard for the rule of law and we all know perfectly well that the Supreme Court will be called upon to make rulings about him personally?

I hope that Senators Bur and Thom Tillis will show some respect for the Constitution and delay a vote on this nomination.

This story was originally published July 3, 2018 at 11:54 AM.