President Obama challenged the U.S. Supreme Court over a ruling that overturned a law restricting corporate advertising during campaigns.
"With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests –- including foreign corporations –- to spend without limit in our elections," he said. "I don't think American elections should be bankrolled by America's most powerful interests, or worse, by foreign entities."
Justice Samuel Alito shook his head and appeared to mouth the words "not true."
Jay Sekulow, chief counsel with the American Center for Law and Justice, said the president got it wrong.
"It did not turn over a century of precedent," Sekulow explained. "It did not allow for foreign groups to invest money into U.S. political campaigns. That is particularly prohibited under that particular statute, and that was not challenged in this case. So, the president was wrong as a matter of fact and wrong as a matter of law."
Ed Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, said while it's proper for a president to have responsible criticism of a Supreme Court decision, that was not the case in this situation.
"He got everything wrong," Whelan said, "and was using the occasion to try to intimidate the justices with his reckless rhetoric."
Whelan added it may have been better for Alito to remain stone faced during Obama's remark, but did add that it was encouraging and refreshing.
"He (Alito) wasn't mugging for the camera," Whelan said, "it's just that President Obama's gross misstatement solicited from him his honest and discreet reaction."
