Will The Supreme Court Decide Another Election?



elcivics.com

The voting public remembers well the Bush-Gore election of 2000.    Especially the Democratic Party.  The Supreme Court happened to get involved in that election and for some, decided who won the Presidency.  All sins are forgiven of course and we enjoyed eight years of President George W. Bush.  As we approach November and the Presidential election between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, one wonders if the Supreme Court will once again influence the outcome of the election.

Sometime in the next two weeks, the Supreme Court of the United States will rule on the Affordable Healthcare Act.  Most pundits and legislative leaders believe that the Supreme Court will rule the legislation unconstitutional.  They may choose just to overturn the mandated coverage but they may also rule to overturn the entire piece of legislation.  Many constitutional scholars believe the court will rule in favor of the legislation.  Everyone on both sides of the issue await the Supreme Court decision with great anxiety. 

zimbio.com

For the Republican Party, a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court will be seen as a huge victory over the President and likely a positive election result in November.  For the Democratic Party, an overturn of the Affordable Healthcare Act holds an entirely different meaning.  There is no question that an unfavorable ruling for the Democrats by the Supreme Court would be seen as a significant loss.  However, it would provide an impetus that the Democrats need for November.

An overturned Affordable Healthcare Act would embolden the Democratic Party, specifically the base.  There has not been a piece of legislation as important as health care to the Democrats for a very long time.  Losing it because the Supreme Court overturns it will be a call to action for the Democratic Party.  Failure on such a grand scale, similar to the election of 2000, provides greater impetus than any other action that could take place. 

The Supreme Court is largely divided as the nation and our legislative bodies.  Presidents appoint the justices and not having President Obama in office provides the opportunity for additional conservative justices to be appointed.  Nothing scares the Democratic base more than that thought alone.  If and when the Supreme Court overturns the Affordable Healthcare Act, look for the Democratic Party to get energized in a big way.

The Supreme Court may be thinking they are just ruling on the constitutionality of a piece of legislation.  They may indeed be helping decide another Presidential election.  The time draws near for a decision.