Decent speech, with one exception:
“I intend to nominate judges who have proven themselves worthy of our trust that they take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws made by the people’s elected representatives, judges of the character and quality of Justices Roberts and Alito, judges who can be relied upon to respect the values of the people whose rights, laws and property they are sworn to defend”
This is worrisome.....
He makes NO MENTION OF ORIGINAL INTENT.
No mention of strict interpretation.
He seems to view the SCOTUS as a rubber stamp for anything Congress or he wants...
This greatly concerns me.
Good catch. He’s also Mr Gang-of-14, and if action foloows history, he will defer to the 60 vote consensus, without asserting that nominees deserve to pass if a simple majority of senators approve.
"No mention of strict interpretation.
You make Outstanding points....he is playing Lawyer with his wording.
I don't see how any one can trust McCain.
One of the reasons McCain is in trouble with Dobson is, despite being pro-life & anti-gay marriage, McCain would not support constitutional amendments. The reasons are:
1. McCain, like Reagan, is concerned about the unintended consequences of ammending the constitution and opposes it on principle.
2. McCain is a strong federalists. He believes the federal government has a limited jurisdiction, and everything else falls to the states. Dobson wants to handle marriage and abortion issues at the federal level, McCain wants to handle them at the state level.
3. McCain is an orignal intent guy. That is part of what he says he wants judges that will enforce the laws and not make new ones.
I’ve followed McCain for a quarter century. I don’t agree with everything he does (immagration particularly.) When it comes to the constitution though, he has been consistently solid. If he was judged on that issue alone, he would be far to the right of most conservatives.
You are right, he says “character and quality” that only refers to the personality not the belief in original intent.
He already said he wouldn't nominate another Alito because he's too conservative. So...he was against Alito before he was for him.