It comes after the top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, came under fire by abortion rights group NARAL, which called for her to give up her chairmanship, saying she provided the 'appearance of credibility' to the hearings. Now, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer is backing the confrontational move, with his party having little hope of stopping the nomination when it hits the floor, where Republicans hold the majority.
There is little they can do to prevent Republicans from rushing to confirm President Donald Trump's pick before Election Day. Likewise, Democrats had no ability to stop the Republican run committee from taking up hearings and scheduling a vote just weeks before the election, even with polls showing Americans would prefer to wait.
The Judiciary Committee, which is controlled by Republicans, is expected to change the rules if necessary to recommend Barrett's nomination to the full Senate. Senators are planning a rare weekend session to secure her confirmation on Monday.
Schumer announced the planned boycott in a speech late Wednesday on the Senate floor. 'We should not be moving forward on this nomination,' he said, calling Barrett's views 'so far out of the mainstream.' No Supreme Court nominee has ever been confirmed so close to a presidential election. He immediately forced a vote to recess the Senate until after the Nov. 3 election, but it failed. 'These are all such violations of American norms, values, decency and honor,' he said. 'Throughout the hearings last week, committee Democrats demonstrated the damage a Justice Barrett would do – to health care, reproductive freedoms, the ability to vote, and other core rights that Americans cherish,' Schumer and panel Democrats said in a statement. 'We will not grant this process any further legitimacy by participating in a committee markup of this nomination just twelve days before the culmination of an election that is already underway.'
Sen. Kamala Harris spoke to the Judiciary Committee remotely from her Capitol office just steps away from the live hearing, which she criticized as a threat to staff and Capitol workers. She accused Amy Coney Barrett of planning to undo Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy.
'I will move forward. She deserves a vote,' said panel chair Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who faces a tough reelection in his home state. 'As to my Democratic colleagues’ refusal to attend the markup, that is a choice they are making. I believe it does a disservice to Judge Barrett who deserves a vote, up or down,' he said.
God is answering our prayers to help preserver this nation.
>> Barrett, a 48-year-old appellate court judge who has spoken out against abortion and a court ruling on the Affordable Care Act, is on track to lock in a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court for years to come.
By doing nothing, the left wing Senators are pretending to do something
They are irrelevant
This will backfire as a childish, take your ball and go home move. People are sick of these stupid tantrum stunts.
Mentally ill children
Payback.......
Trump has had 3 picks for SCOTUS, and after November, probably 2-3 more in the next 4 years.
Let's hear it for socialized medicine!
We can't say we weren't warned.
Can this Schumer’s ‘peaceful’ protest hurt ACB becoming a justice next week?
It is their decision to act like little kids who don’t get their way!
Truly can’t believe how far the Democrat party has sunk to!
That will teach them!
Who cares!
Lol, At first I thought it was from the Bee.
Since we can’t get our way, we are taking our toys and going home. You mean kids can just play here by yourselves.
Communist, rude, ungracious Democrats demonstrate their disdain for decorum because they do not have the power to stop the nomination from advancing.
Why do they not put on multi-colored scarves and kneel, too?
Democrats are Dumb.
I have little doubt she will eventually move left, especially on issues of race if nothing else. She gave hints during her testimony.
ROFL!!!
Why don’t they put pictures of child molesters instead.
They’re easier to find in DC
Democrats aren’t showing up to do the jobs they were elected to do? That’s a shocker!!!!!!
What drama queens.
Sorry, not gonna achieve sh*t.