Posted on 02/13/2016 6:24:27 PM PST by jazusamo
Senate Democrats moved quickly Saturday to demand action on a Supreme Court nominee following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called Scalia a "brilliant man" and "dedicated jurist" in a statement and said the work on filling his vacancy should begin immediately.
"The President can and should send the Senate a nominee right away. With so many important issues pending before the Supreme Court, the Senate has a responsibility to fill vacancies as soon as possible," Reid said. "It would be unprecedented in recent history for the Supreme Court to go a year with a vacant seat. Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate's most essential Constitutional responsibilities."
Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vt.), the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said the American people deserve to have a fully functioning Supreme Court.
"Although I often did not agree with his legal opinions, no one doubted his commitment or his brilliance," Leahy said of Scalia. "I hope that no one will use this sad news to suggest that the President or the Senate should not perform its constitutional duty."
Leahy said the Supreme Court is far too important to the nation's democratic system to be left understaffed for partisan reasons.
"It is only February," he said. "The President and the Senate should get to work without delay to nominate, consider and confirm the next justice to serve on the Supreme Court."
A spokesman for Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a conservative who sits on the Judiciary panel, said on Twitter after the news of Scalia's death that no nominee from Obama should be considered. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a presidential candidate, echoed Lee in a statement.
"The next president must nominate a justice who will continue Justice Scalia's unwavering belief in the founding principles that we hold dear."
"Today, our nation has suffered a deep loss," he said. "Justice Scalia was one of the most consequential Americans in our history and a brilliant legal mind who served with only one objective: to interpret and defend the Constitution as written."
The conservative Judicial Crisis Network said President Obama should be the last person to appoint Scalia's successor.
"This president, who has shown such contempt for the Constitution and the laws, is the last person who should be appointing his successor," Carrie Severino, the group's chief counsel and policy director, said in a statement. "The American people on both sides of the aisle are disgusted with the status quo in Washington and another nomination by this President would just bring about more of the same."
Severino said the next presidential should make the appointment.
"The people's voice should be heard in November to determine who will appoint the next Supreme Court Justice," she said.
Dingy Harry and Leaky Leahy are already squealing like little girls that 0bama should appoint a justice and s/he be confirmed, they're no longer calling the shots and McConnell had better stand firm.
Body’s not even cold yet and these vultures are circling.
You expected differently?
Exactly, it’s pathetic. The GOP had better not fold on this.
Do not think there has EVER been a Supreme Court vacancy filled in the last year of a final presidential term. Ever. And precisely because the body politic is in transition— which these idiot outgoing dems know— is why their “urgency”. There is NOTHING pressing for a Supreme Court decision, except, of course the judiciary driven leftist agenda. Which. can. wait.
Right on.
BTW— there is NOTHING in the real US Constitution that says there MUST be 9 justices or any other number. Just got emailed that little gem. FReepers? This would freak out these bozos.
God bless Antonin Scalia and may He be with his family.
That stated: God be with our Senate and may they hold the line on this!
I tell you what leaky - tell 0bongo to nominate a conservative and we have a deal.
GOPe should be GOPf. Fold is their middle name.
Well, Roberts could always go join the leftist 4.
Eighty years of precedence of not installing a Supreme Court member during an election year. Not about to stop now.
Thanks God this didn’t happen last November or some time last year.
Thank God Senator Jeff Sessions is on the Judiciary Committee.
meaning the last time this (holding up a SC justice) happened the rats controlled the senate/congress and there was a Republican in the White House....
Well said, and the Rats know it.
How many federal judge nominations did Reid’s Dem senate block during the Bush administration? Many dozens.
This works both ways.
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