CNN's Jake Tapper Challenges GOP Senator: "You Must Be Thrilled Obama Followed Your Suggestion"
CNN's Jake Tapper Challenges GOP Senator: "You Must Be Thrilled Obama Followed Your Suggestion" For SCOTUS Nomination
Tapper: "In 2010 ... You Said There Was No Question He Would Win Confirmation With Bipartisan Support"
SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R-UT) Well, you know, it isn't a question of who he's appointed, it's a question of whether you should bring that up during this caustic, toxic presidential election process. It's something that really hasn't been done before, except in the case of in recent years, in the last 75 years, except in the case of Justice Kennedy, who after a long ordeal of Democrats smearing Bork and then going right down the line, everybody was happy to get that over with.
[...]
TAPPER: Senator, in 2010 you actually specifically addressed the possibility that President Obama would nominate Judge Garland. You said there was no question he would win confirmation with bipartisan support.
HATCH: Well, and he did. As a matter of fact, I led that fight for him. You know, he's a fine man. I have no problem with liking, you know, the judge. I mean he's a good judge. Now, I haven't looked at his opinions for 19 years, and we're not talking about a Circuit Court of Appeals judgeship. We're talking about the highest court in the land, the court of final decision making where you -- it's the court of final appeal in this country. So it's a much more serious thing, and I can quote you Democrat after Democrat who when Republicans were in control said you can't do this.
TAPPER: Right.
HATCH: You know, so now that the ox is gored, I mean they of course would like to just be able to run right over you, and the Republicans aren't going to let them do that.
http://mediamatters.org/video/2016/03/16/cnns-jake-tapper-challenges-gop-senator-you-mus/209324
= new reply since forum marked as read
If there's gonna be a fight, pick someone that would galvanize the Democratic populace in both the SCOTUS nomination fight *AND* the general Presidential election if the nomination is not confirmed by then.
Obama picked who he wanted to be on the court. Period.
He will get his guy confirmed.
President Obama did not select this nominee to make people look bad. He did it because that's the kind of person he wants on the court.
If he wanted to make Republicans look bad, he'd nominate Kamala Harris from California. (I still want her in the US Senate, though)
How would the GOP look blocking the first African-American female Supreme Court nominee? See? It would be game over for them if they confirm her (GOP base would be pissed) or if they block her (Democratic outrage brings even more to the polls in Nov.).
They are used to put people of the President's liking on the bench for life.
President Obama wants this man on the bench, period.
He does not act to make Republicans look stupid. They do that all on their own.
