The Sorting Hat Puts Chief Justice John Roberts in Gryffindor!!

In the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Professor Albus Dumbledore states “it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to you friends.” In awarding Gryffindor 10 points in the race for the house cup, Professor Dumbledore was recognizing the courage of Neville Longbottom in standing up to the series heroes, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Grainger.  I know this because my youngest daughter was ten when the first Potter book was released and like many parents I spent the next decade waiting in line for books, tickets to midnight showings and at the entrance to the Potter ride in Orlando. 

But, the exchange at the end of the first Potter movie reminds me, in a very strange way, of Chief Justice John Roberts recent opinion in NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS ET AL. v. SEBELIUS, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, ET AL. or “the Obamacare ruling.” In a decision that shocked a city in which all views and opinions are developed  through a  Republican/Democrat or liberal/conservative filter, Roberts showed a glimpse of courage and integrity almost extinct in our nation’s capitol. For all those who laughed at his suggestion that he was simply an umpire in court cases and that “nobody pays to see the umpire“ Roberts displayed a remarkable degree of statesmanship. 

Ironically, despite the condemnation of most Republican lawmakers, Roberts ruling was very restrained in nature.  He joined the majority in declaring the expansion of Medicaid to be coersive toward states and rejected the right of the Federal government to enact the penalty/tax for lack of health care coverage under the commerce clause.  Many respected court observers have argued that Roberts majority opinion actually reigns in federal power and is a victory for states rights.

So, Chief Justice John Roberts has managed to alienate Reps and Dems as well as conservatives and liberals.  In my mind, that alone makes John Roberts a leader to be emulated. 

Throughout the Potter movies, Neville Longbottom has an increasingly significant role to play in the battle against the evil Lord Voldemort and was forced to make decisions based on what was right and not what was easy.  Politicians can learn a lot from Longbottom and Roberts. 

I’ll leave it to you to determine the political affiliation of “he who must not be named.”