5 times Senate Democrats embarrassed themselves during the Gorsuch judicial hearings

5 times Senate Democrats embarrassed themselves during the Gorsuch judicial hearings March 23, 2017

1. But, but, but what about Merrick Garland?

Senate Democrats showed their pettiness in making sure they brought up the unfairness of the failed nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to replace the late-Justice Antonin Scalia at the end of Obama’s presidency.

California Sen. Diane Feinstein said:

“We’re here today under unusual circumstances. It was almost a year ago today that President Obama nominated Chief Judge Merrick Garland for this seat. Unfortunately, due to unprecedented treatment, Judge Garland was denied a hearing and this vacancy has been in place for well over a year. I just want to say I’m deeply disappointed that it is under these circumstances that we begin our hearings.”

Then, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said:

I cannot let this moment, in commenting on the best tradition of the Senate, pass without expressing my deep regret that Chief Judge Merrick Garland was treated with profound and historic disrespect. The disrespect shown by Senate Republicans to Chief Judge Merrick Garland and to President Obama and to our institutitons was unprecedented and deeply damaging. For nearly 300 days, longer than any other nominee, Chief Judge Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court sat without action. My Republican colleagues did not afford him a hearing and would not give him a vote.

Also, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT):

Today marks the first time the Senate Judiciary Committee has met publicly to take action on the Supreme Court vacancy that resulted from Justice Scalia’s death thirteen months ago because just hours after we learned of Justice Scalia’s sudden passing, the Republican majority leader [McConnell] declared that the Senate would not provide any process to any nominee selected by President Obama, despite the President having a year left in his term. This was an extraordinary blockade. It was totally unprecedented in our country’s whole history… Now Republicans are guilty of their own court unpacking scheme, and the blocking of Chief Judge Merrick Garland was never grounded in principle or precedent.

As if any of that had anything to do with Gorsuch.

Click CONTINUE for more:


Browse Our Archives

Follow Us!