Sen. Pat Toomey doubled down on his obstruction last week after meeting with Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court.
Advertisement
Asked whether Garland would overturn the Citizens United campaign finance decision, a litmus test issue for the Vermont senator, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said President Obama did not ask Garland how he would rule in specific cases. “Because he is thoughtful, thorough, and well-respected across the political spectrum, obstructing a fair process, much less refusing to meet with him, makes no sense”.
“This is a lifetime appointment that could reshape the Supreme Court for generations, and I believe the best thing for the country is to trust the American people to weigh in”, Portman said after meeting with Garland.
Their half-hour sitdown at the U.S. Capitol is the latest two-step in a complicated dance that’s consumed Congress since Justice Antonin Scalia died in February and Obama nominated Garland as his replacement a few weeks later. The court has been ideologically balanced over recent years and this balance should continue. “And right now, Senator Risch and his colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference aren’t”. Maine’s Republican Sen. Susan Collins became the second to ignore McConnell’s orders, and after she met with Garland she announced that she has become “more convinced than ever” that the nominee should get a hearing.
The strategy, in turn, has prompted Democrats to accuse the GOP of political obstructionism.
The White House and Senate Democrats who back Garland are trying to increase the pressure on Senate Republicans to hold a hearing and vote on Garland.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which considers judicial nominations, and the Senate Democratic leadership, joined by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., holds up a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Susan Collins of ME and Mark Kirk of IL have called for hearings and a vote.
Advertisement
The group, Majority Forward, is running online ads hammering Johnson and other Republican senators facing re-election this fall. Mike Crapo said earlier that they opposed Garland because he had not been a strong supporter of gun rights. After the vote, the state’s senior senator said: “Tennessee is fortunate to have such a well-qualified federal district court judge as Waverly Crenshaw”.
