Obama has said Republicans have no grounds to refuse to consider his nominee. Republicans have argued that the president shouldn’t nominate anyone; O’Connor made clear the nominating choice is up to the president. The Senate must confirm any nominee. Following up on that, should we interpret your comments just now that you are likely to choose a moderate nominee?
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But in the world of Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, what really happened was that President Obama politicized the justice’s death, forcing McConnell and his fellow senators to “fire back”.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece that if Senate Republicans block consideration of any Obama nominee, “they will ensure that this Republican majority is remembered as the most nakedly partisan, obstructionist and irresponsible majority in history”. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to tell them he expects them to fulfill their “constitutional obligation” in voting for a replacement.
Besides all the conspiracy theories about Scalia’s death, I am baffled by the speed at which the Republican leadership started condemning Obama for even letting the word “nominate” enter his brain. “The ceremony at the Supreme Court seems the most apt opportunity for the president to pay his respects, but he obviously might have severe competing demands on his time”.
Although the White House can not say why the President will be “unavailable to attend” Justice Antonin Scalia’s funeral, Obama will skip the service on Saturday and instead visit the Justice briefly as he lies in state at the Supreme Court.
“For the sake of our nation and decency, I hope it isn’t politics keeping President Obama from the funeral”, said Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren. “Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President”. Obama’s nominee could change the court’s balance of power.
“The Supreme Court can function with eight justices”, he said. Mr. Obama spoke with Mr. Grassley Friday morning, after the lawmaker penned an op-ed with Mr. McConnell urging a delay in the nomination.
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On Saturday, the devout Catholic justice will be celebrated at a funeral mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception about 11 a.m., followed by a private burial. “I think we fall into the trap, if we just simply say sight unseen, we fall into the trap of being obstructionists”, Tillis said.
