On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court brought another decision to the American public, and yet again, they came down on the side of Conservatives. The Court found that Joseph Kennedy, an assistant football coach in the Bremerton School District in Washington state, was allowed to pray publicly on the field shortly after the conclusion of games.
Justice Neil Gorsuch stated in the majority that “Both the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect expressions like Mr. Kennedy's. Nor does a proper understanding of the Amendment's Establishment Clause require the government to single out private religious speech for special disfavor. The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike."
Various politicians around the Sunshine State gave their takes on the decision.
SCOTUS delivered another major win for the Constitution this morning. Coach Kennedy’s First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and freedom of speech are inalienable, and I look forward to seeing him back on the field this fall! pic.twitter.com/NI8tGLp1NM
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) June 27, 2022
“SCOTUS delivered another major win for the Constitution this morning. Coach Kennedy’s First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and freedom of speech are inalienable, and I look forward to seeing him back on the field this fall!” Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) exclaimed
Another massive win for our Constitution and for our God-given rights. https://t.co/aoDF7gILQg
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) June 27, 2022
“Another massive win for our Constitution and for our God-given rights," Rep. Byron Donalds(R-FL) mentioned
Today’s decision once again rightly affirms the constitutional right to freely exercise one’s religious beliefs and that discrimination has no place in our country. #SCOTUS https://t.co/r6vwyvMVxO
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) June 27, 2022
“Today’s decision once again rightly affirms the constitutional right to freely exercise one’s religious beliefs and that discrimination has no place in our country," tweeted Sen. Rick Scott.
There was an attempt to find the responses made by Florida Democrats to the High Court decision concerning Mr. Kennedy, but there was none.
Almost all the responses concerning the Supreme Court made by Florida Democrats are still focused on Roe v. Wade. To be fair, it is not surprising. Democrats have a tough task ahead of them. With a vast majority of the country believing the country is headed in the wrong direction (RealClearPolitics), it makes sense for Democrats to hammer an issue that is 1) naturally divisive, and 2) been law for so long.
Whether you believe Roe v. Wade was bad law or appropriate law to begin with, a lot of Americans, including some conservatives, had grown comfortable with the idea that Roe v. Wade was here to stay.
Democrats must capitalize on this moment. It may be their only hope this November.
