Merrick’s nomination came as a surprise to some, who assumed that Sri Srinivasan, also a judge for the D.C. federal court, would be the top pick.
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Wednesday after Garland’s nomination announcement “the American people may well elect a president who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration”. The Republicans have the power to deny President Obama this incredibly important opportunity, and they are using that power.
“The next president is going to appoint potentially two or three new people to the Supreme Court”, said Hartzler.
“President Obama is within his constitutional rights to submit a nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy, and the Senate is within its constitutional rights to determine how it will exercise its advice and consent responsibilities, ” he said.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Thursday that the Republicans are now undercutting their own argument for blocking President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee. “However, It is gratifying to see so many Indian- Americans run for office in this election cycle”.
However, senate republicans say that’s not the reason they refuse to hold a hearing, it has to do with timing. Ayotte and Portman are among a half-dozen GOP senators in competitive re-election contests who Democrats hope will be pressured into backing hearings and a vote on Garland or be punished for their refusal by voters.
“President Obama has done his job-selecting a nominee and sending that nominee to the Senate-and it’s time for the Senate to do its job”, Warren said.
Obama’s nominee for the position is DC appeals court judge Merrick Garland, who is broadly considered a centrist.
“I disagree with some of the Republicans in that the process itself, the Constitution should be respected”, he said.
President Barack Obama was still introducing his Supreme Court nominee from the White House Rose Garden when negative statements from SC congressional Republicans started flooding email inboxes. By then, Republicans would know if Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton had won the presidency and might want to confirm Garland rather than being faced with a more liberal choice from Clinton.
LGBT rights groups applauded Obama’s move and called on the Senate to consider Garland.
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Senate Democrats are betting that Republicans will begin to splinter and eventually cave under public pressure.
