Posted on 02/23/2016 4:33:25 PM PST by Kaslin
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), because of his determination to stop a lame-duck vote on a Supreme Court nominee, is worse than a segregationist who tried to stop the Civil Rights Act.
Republicans on the Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today vowing to not hold hearings on a Supreme Court nominee until the next president is sworn in.
"We intend to exercise the constitutional power granted the Senate under Article II, Section 2 to ensure the American people are not deprived of the opportunity to engage in a full and robust debate over the type of jurist they wish to decide some of the most critical issues of our time," the senators wrote. "Not since 1932 has the Senate confirmed in a presidential election year a Supreme Court nominee to a vacancy arising in that year."
"And it is necessary to go even further back - to 1888 - in order to find an election year nominee who was nominated and confirmed under divided government, as we have now."
In addition to Grassley, the pledge to block a Supreme Court nominee at the committee level was signed by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), David Vitter (R-La.), David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
Outside a closed policy luncheon on Capitol Hill today, Reid blamed McConnell for getting "every Republican member of the Judiciary Committee to say they won't even hold a hearing."
"Hard to comprehend, but it appears that Senator Grassley's going to follow through on this plan. He will go down in history as the most obstructionist Judiciary chair in the history of our country. Now, that says a lot because we knew about the Judiciary Committee chairs during the Civil Rights Era," Reid added.
In 1964, the Senate majority leader had to take maneuvers to keep the Civil Rights Act from landing in Senate Judiciary Chairman James Eastland's committee, given the Mississippi Democrat's fervent opposition to the landmark legislation.
"I can't imagine. Senator Grassley -- I've served with him in Congress for more than three decades. Is this the legacy that he wants? Is this the choice he's making by following Senator McConnell down this path of Trump and Cruz?" Reid continued, adding soon after that "Ted Cruz and Donald Trump took over the Republican Party and now the Judiciary Committee itself."
The minority leader charged that Republicans are "threatening to abandon the Senate's responsibilities."
"It's what Donald Trump and Ted Cruz want. Remember, Trump said delay, delay, delay the Supreme court nominees. They're doing that in a way that I'm sure Trump couldn't imagine. They've taken that to a new -- new height. It's wrong and the American people, I really do believe, won't stand for this," Reid said. "...Republicans must take their duty seriously and reject the extreme approach of Trump and Cruz."
Reid warned that McConnell "hasn't seen the pressure that's going to build -- it's going to build in all facets of the political constituency in the country."
"The Republicans themselves are saying through their right-wing outlets that they would rather the Republicans lose the Senate than allow a vote on the nominee. So that says it all," he said. "I think -- I think it -- let's look at it this way. Doing something never done in the history of this country, never done in the history of this country, is not going to help them, let's put it that way."
Outside the Senate GOPs' luncheon, McConnell told reporters that the "overwhelming view of the Republican Conference of the Senate is that this nomination should not be filled, this vacancy should not be filled by this lame-duck president."
"That was the view of Joe Biden when he was chairman of the Judiciary Committee in 1992; Chuck Schumer who I assume will be my counterpart next year had the view that you shouldn't fill a vacancy in the last 18 months going into a presidential election year. And certainly, that was Senator Reid's view as well in a different era," McConnell said.
Cornyn added that the Judiciary Committee's stand is "not about the personality -- it's about the principle."
"It's up to the American people in this next election no matter who they choose to make the nomination for this important seat on the Supreme Court," Cornyn said. "Justice Scalia served for 30 years, so this clearly extends far beyond President Obama's term of office. It's that important."
McConnell said he would be "not inclined" to meet with Obama's nominee, and Cornyn said he doesn't "see the point of going through the motions if we know what the outcome is going to be... and creating a misleading impression that something else is going on here."
"I have many faults, but getting off-message is not one of them," McConnell said. "This nomination will be determined by whoever wins the presidency in the fall. I agree with the Judiciary Committee's recommendation that we not have hearings. In short, there will not be action taken."
I wonder if Chuck Grassley was the old man who beat up Harry Reid one time.
Apparently Grassley runs 10 or 20 miles every day. He also shouted at Chuck Schumer & Jeff Sessions piped in with his southern drawl at the Senate Judiciary on amnesty.
Schadenfreude, Baby!
The Republicans in the Senate must be doing something right for a change. If the Democrats are not calling Republicans Nazi,racist homophobes I get worried.
Like Al Gore’s father?
(Or what passes for DC Democrat standards.)
Mr. niteowl77
“Apparently Grassley runs 10 or 20 miles every day.”
—
Uuum,I don’t think so.
.
Bull Grassley.
Considering that those old segregationists were all DEMOCRATS its hard to believe that Harry Reid would go there.
KAGAN
SOTOMAYOR
Thank you Mr. Trump for demonstrating that you can win when you stand up against those that can win only by demonizing their opponents. Never give up, never surrender, and never apologize.
Politicians in particular and the public in general need to recognize that being called “racist” no longer means anything.
Harry Reid actually said that Grassley was worse than 1960’s democrats?
and what in the world is the relationship anyway, Harry, between your 1940’s Segregation bogey-men.... and Senator McConnell’s statement today?
(Answer: none whatsoever. Reid is just pumping out more of the Commie-Demo Racist party line BS..)
I don’t think Grassley cares that Obama is half African - I believe Grassley knows anyone Obama nominates will be a Marxist anti-American jurist. Someone who shares the ideology of Eric Holder, Chuck Schumer, or Bill Ayres. As for Reid, he is a hack moron who is not worth a warm bucket of spit.
Not to long from now we will have someone who will not only Swing at this Clown, but knock him the Hell out. The GOP dont fight. Trump relishes in it, and he is Damned good at it. Look at all the Corpses along the road so far. Im Lovin it. Hang on Dingy. Your time is coming. Like a Freight Train. :)
Go Trump
Did Harry and co forget what they said about judges just a few years ago, it seems they have and the media won’t replay their words though will frigging they.
ER the Dems were the
party of segregation, maybe Grassley needs to remind him of that as well him and co stopping Bush from appointing judges.
See. For those who get a case of the vapors when Trump attacks using rough, tough language, Reid is a reminder of how the Dems fight. Only Trump has the stones to take them on on their own turf. Trump is a street fighter who will do whatever is necessary to win. Forget tone and the rules.
+1. Nice to see you recognize a bought, and paid for GOP Hack. The Bush $ will continue to be spent here well after Trump wins. Sit back and enjoy it. Its a riot. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.