Protecting democracy and the rule of law is everyone’s responsibility. That is why this headline from a major publication is so infuriating: “Justice Alito infuriates Democrats with upside-down flag.”
There is so much wrong with this headline. It misleads the reader into thinking that a Supreme Court Justice’s demonstration of bias is a partisan issue. It reports yet another ethical lapse by a Justice as a political issue, rather than as a grave threat to the Court’s constitutional role as the independent third branch of government.
A headline about former President Trump’s video posting on Truth Social touting the “unified Reich” that would emerge from his victory stated: “Trump’s latest flirtation with Nazi symbolism draws criticism.” How can a respectable publication label the horrifying adoption of Nazi rhetoric as a “flirtation?”
We must hold the media to a higher standard. Journalism that portrays dangerous behaviors as partisan politics-as-usual is dangerous to democracy. Using the word “flirtation” to describe the use of Nazi language and allowing shocking ethical lapses at the Supreme Court to be reported as partisan endangers the rule of law.
Silence fuels the danger.
LDAD will be focusing on the media’s responsibilities to protect the rule of law in the months ahead. We will also be reporting on other projects that are in the works. Our goal is to galvanize the legal profession into leading the way, speaking up in defense of our justice system and rejecting efforts to politicize core principles of American democracy.
To do this, we need all of you as partners in support of our work. LDAD’s accomplishments are significant, but its funding base is extraordinarily limited.
Please respond to our urgent spring appeal and donate today. If you are a first-time donor, check out our website to see the range of our work. We hope you will be motivated to give. If you have donated before, please consider an additional gift at this time.
Thank you for your support and for your dedication to maintaining our democracy.
Sincerely,
Lawyers Defending American Democracy
