Tom Cotton: SCOTUS Vote Will Happen, Even If COVID-Stricken GOP Senators Have to Be 'Wheeled In'

Townhall.com ^ | October 4, 2020 | Beth Bauman

[Kaslin]

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton on Sunday told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo that the three positive coronavirus cases in the Senate will not prevent Judge Amy Coney Barrett from being confirmed to the United States Senate.

“Your colleagues have tested positive. It looks like it was that Amy Coney Barrett gathering at the White House to introduce her to lawmakers. That really was the place where so many people were exposed.”

Cotton said he's been in contact with his colleagues who have tested positive or are in quarantine and, to the best of his knowledge, everyone is either asymptomatic or has mild symptoms. No one has required hospitalization.

"What I can say is everyone is eager to be a work when they need to be at work. If they're on the Judiciary [Committee], a week from tomorrow, whether in-person or virtually, to have the confirmation hearing for Judge Barrett and then have the vote on Judge Barrett this month," Cotton explained.

According to the senator, the three positive cases in the Senate shouldn't have any kind of impact on Barrett's confirmation process.

"Tell me about the proceedings. You say you are confident that you will be able to, in fact, have the nomination hearings for Judge Barrett. You think this will not impact the schedule or the agenda, sir?" Bartiromo asked.

“No doubt about it, Maria. Several of the senators who are in isolation right now would come out of isolation before those hearings begin. But the Senate Judiciary Committee has also conducted 20 hearings this year, that have either been in part or in whole virtual. Many Senate Democrats say couldn’t possibly do a virtual hearing or demanding throughout this year going back to March that all committees be conducted over Zoom or Webex or some other virtual hearing," he replied. "So the hearing is going forward, no doubt in my mind starting a week from tomorrow, Maria and then on the Senate floor later this month."

"First off, I think every senator who currently tested positive or is in isolation will be back to work under normal conditions, as other senators have been as well, like Rand Paul or Tim Kane. But if that’s not the case, Maria, there is a long and venerable tradition of ill or medically infirmed senators being wheeled in to cast critical votes on the Senate floor," Cotton said. “So I’m confident that every senator will be in attendance when his or her vote is needed.”

Cotton pointed to the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV), who was repeatedly rolled in to Senate votes, especially related to Obamacare, as an example of what was done in the past.

[CatOwner]

Hey Tom, if you have this much balls, get the Senators in sooner rather than later for the vote. You just know something really bad is going to happen to jettison their ability to have the vote so close to Election Day.

[rktman]

For more commentary:

https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3890457/posts

[rktman]

For more commentary:

https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3890457/posts

[rktman]

Weird double tap?

[jarwulf]

Senators can vote through teleconference can’t they?

[caww]

The Senate Judiciary Committee has conducted 20 hearings this year, that have either been in part or in whole virtual. Thus the vote for Scotus shouldn’t be a problem virtual if needs be.

[SmokingJoe]

President Trump has put some real backbone into GOP Senators.

[canuck_conservative]

Bring ‘em in wearing airtight biohazard suits if they have to.

Dems and their Big Media pals will not stop this vote!

[catnipman]

“Tom Cotton: SCOTUS Vote Will Happen, Even If COVID-Stricken GOP Senators Have to Be ‘Wheeled In’”

nattering nabobs of negativism FReeper trolls very saddened that they can’t figure out to attack the GOP for this ...

[Wm F Buckley Republican]

Darned right! Take them in on gurneys and hazmat suits, if necessary.

[napscoordinator]

I hope he takes senate majority leader after Mcconnell.

[Regulator]

Trump himself took the risks and will emerge victorius.

They can pull themselves together and do it.

It’s only the single most important Supreme Court nomination in the last 100 years.

[SunkenCiv]

• Schumer urges McConnell to delay Supreme Court hearing amid coronavirus outbreak: 'It's not safe'
• Biden plans to attend next debate, hopes Trump will be able to participate, campaign says
• Trump supporters close 5th Ave. to support COVID-19-stricken president
• Every Twitter Poll Curated -> 4,000,000+ Total Votes --> The PEOPLE DECLARE DONALD J. TRUMP the WINNER of FIRST DEBATE
• Trump Campaign Green Lights a Second Debate But with a Slight Change
• The Debate: A Vote for Two Men or a Vote for Two Ideologies -- One Will Save America and Keep Her Strong
• Chris Rock on SNL: 'Trump Is in the Hospital with COVID -- My Heart Goes Out to COVID'
• Cleveland Officials Traced COVID Cases Back to the Debate... Before Trump Was On-site
• Biased 'newsman' Chris Wallace paraded on network way too much after debate debacle, viewers note
• Michael Moore slams 'professional liar' Trump and accuses the president of pretending to have coronavirus to postpone the election
• MSNBC's Joy Reid suggests Trump is faking COVID diagnosis to 'get out of the debates'
• Michael Moore: 'My Thoughts and Prayers Are With Covid-19'
• Biden's Debate Comment About 'Allah Willing' May Not Have Been as Innocent as Some Claim
• From Gergen, to Moore, to the Times: Left Freaks Out Over Trump Diagnosis
• It is Starting to Look Like Joe Biden used Augmented Reality Contact Lenses to Read Scripted Talking Points in Tuesday Night Debate with President Trump
• Fat Hack LIar Michael Moore: It's Possible Trump 'Lying About Having COVID-19' to 'Gain Sympathy'
• Billionaire black entrepreneur: 'I haven't heard anything coherent from' Biden
• But but Trumby was MEAN. He interrupted our interruptions
• Friday News Roundup: Trump Won the Debate, Much to the Chagrin of Fox News
• Conspiracy-Theory Twitter Is Going Nuts Over Trump's COVID-19 Diagnosis, Including Trump is Faking It
• The Top 5 Trump Moments From The First Presidential Debate
• Ex-White House physician: Trump is 'asymptomatic,' will be ready for next debate
• Don't Be Suckered Into Diversion Over Debate Chaos

[OrangeHoof]

I liked the idea of HazMat suits. C’mon Pubbies. You can afford this.

[DouglasKC]

I’m starting to wonder if key members of the GOP self infected to take it off the table before barrets confirmation...also wondering if pres trump did the same...from ,now to the election nothing to worry about!

[thesligoduffyflynns]

YIPPEE!!!!! thats the kind of determination i like!!!

[Savage Beast]

Vote To Confirm NOW! Do not wait!

[Persevero]

That’s what I want to hear!

[eartick]

Mail in voting good for presidential election, why not for judge nomination