UPDATED 10/15/16, 9:30 a.m.:
In a statement released on Friday, Ginsburg called her remarks towards Kaepernick's national anthem protest "inappropriately dismissive and harsh," adding that she should have "declined to respond."
See original story below.
We've already heard everyone from Mia Khalifa to Mike Ditka offer up opinions on Colin Kaepernick's decision to protest the national anthem by taking a knee. So from there, it would only seem logical that the next person to weigh in with their two cents on the subject would be...Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
Okay, so maybe you haven't been sitting around waiting for the Supreme Court justice to weigh in, but that's exactly what happened when she sat down with Katie Couric and proceeded to castigate the 49ers backup quarterback after Couric asked her how she felt about him and several other NFL players taking a knee during the anthem. "I think it’s really dumb of them," Ginsburg said. "Would I arrest them for doing it? No. I think it’s dumb and disrespectful. I would have the same answer if you asked me about flag burning. I think it’s a terrible thing to do, but I wouldn’t lock a person up for doing it. I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act."
Couric followed that up by asking for clarification. "But when it comes to these football players, you may find their actions offensive, but what you’re saying is, it’s within their rights to exercise those actions?" Couric asked.
"Yes," Ginsburg said. "If they want to be stupid, there’s no law that should be preventive. If they want to be arrogant, there’s no law that prevents them from that. What I would do is strongly take issue with the point of view that they are expressing when they do that."
Damn, seems a bit over the top, no? You can check out Ginsburg's exchange with Couric below:
Be sure to keep your eye out for Ginsburg's upcoming appearance on First Take.
