On Friday, VP Kamala Harris blasted Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for his role in the decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
At a political rally in Chicago for Governor J. B. Pritzker, Harris asserted same-sex marriage and contraceptives would be the GOP’s next mark if they retook the House or Senate in the November elections.
What is Allegedly at Stake
According to Harris, Justice Clarence Thomas said the silent part out loud in the Dobbs’ judgment. His part of the verdict was essentially to state that marriage equality is at stake, as is contraception access.
.@VP Harris: “Justice Clarence Thomas said the quiet part out loud, which is with the Dobbs decision, we are also looking at a very high likelihood of a risk to the right to contraception, same-sex marriage.” pic.twitter.com/uAcmwv3R7r
— The Hill (@thehill) September 17, 2022
She advised everyone to pay attention to what is taking place and what is at stake in this situation.
The vice president added they must maintain their majority in the House and Senate because, without a Democratic majority in Congress, it’s very obvious what other liberties Republicans will target.
So pathetic when America's VP is so ignorant on our constitution. She's horrible and pathetic. Kamala Harris attacks Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for Roe remarkshttps://t.co/fpdcStIWTh
— LAHanley (@Lori_Hanley) September 18, 2022
This summer, the Supreme Court issued a verdict that was 6-3 in favor of overturning the landmark abortion case; this remanded the issue back to the states for further consideration.
Each of the six justices selected by a Republican president voted to support the reversal. Justice Samuel Alito was principally responsible for penning the decision held by the majority.
A syllabus of the ruling stated the Constitution does not give a right to abortion, that Roe and Casey are overturned, and the ability to regulate abortion is restored to the people’s elected officials.
The three justices who dissented in the case were all chosen and confirmed during Democratic administrations.
Same-Sex and Contraceptives
In a concurring opinion attributed to Thomas, the justice suggests the Supreme Court should revisit other due process precedents in upcoming cases, including other major cases like Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell.
The case of Obergefell v. Hodges, which was decided in 2015, showed the right to marry for same-sex couples was safeguarded by both the equal protection clause and the due process clause of the Constitution.
In 2003, the Supreme Court struck down a Texas law that deemed illegal same-gender sexual activity with the ruling of Lawrence v. Texas. In 1965, the case of Griswold v. Connecticut established the right of married couples to obtain and use contraceptives without intervention from the government.
On Friday, Harris told the crowd in Chicago that if Democrats maintain their majority in the Senate and win two extra seats in the November elections, then Congress will have the ability to codify the Roe v. Wade decision.
The VP stated their task is abundantly apparent. She went on to note that Biden stated that he would not permit antiquated Senate rules to stand in the way of maintaining these two freedoms and she reiterated this statement. Therefore, this is the task at hand.
During the elections in November, there will be a total of 35 seats up for grabs in the Senate, with 14 Democratic seats and 21 Republican seats being at stake.
