During his State of the Union, Obama rebuked the Supreme Court over Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission stating:
"Last week, the Supreme Court reversed a century of law to open the floodgates for special interests - including foreign companies - to spend without limit in our elections. Well I don’t think American elections should be bankrolled by America’s most powerful interests, and worse, by foreign entities. They should be decided by the American people, and that’s why I’m urging Democrats and Republicans to pass a bill that helps to right this wrong."
The amazing thing was actually seeing Justice Alito shake his head and mouth "not true" as the President was speaking. The Chief Justice appears to be shaking his head as well.
Juan Williams on Fox News: "I am not sure it is appropriate for the President to scold the Supreme Court...it worries me in terms of intimidating a branch of government."
Now, I personally am not sure that the "Supremes" were intimidated-- but Justice Alito certainly looked angry.
I have been looking and I cannot find another instance where a President has publicly rebuked the Supreme Court to their "faces." I believe the President failed to remember that the Supreme Court is an Equal Branch of office. They hold office for life, and they do not report to the Executive Branch.
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