Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared on Rachel Maddow and seemed resolute. He made it clear that Democrats intend to fight against attempts to repeal Progressive programs. He had a special message on any Trump Supreme Court nominee.
Chuck Schumer may leave Supreme Court Justice hanging
Chuck Schumer made it clear that the Supreme Court Justice chair may remain open for the foreseeable future because Democrats will not support a far Right nominee.
Rachel Maddow pointed out that the Republicans to the unprecedented step to deny President Obama his right to appoint the Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s replacement.
“A very moderate mainstream nominee,” Schumer chimed in.
Rachel continued as she noted that Progressives were disappointed with Merrick Garland, President Obama’s nominee. She pointed out that it was a radical thing that Republicans did.
“Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon said they stole a Supreme Court seat,” Maddow continued. “Didn’t they just get away with it? Are there no consequences for it?”
“Well the consequences are going to be down the road,” Schumer said. “The consequences are going to be down the road. We are not going to settle on a Supreme Court nominee. If they don’t appoint someone who is really good, we are going to oppose him to the nail. Then they won’t have sixty votes to put in an out of the mainstream nominee. And then they will have to make a choice, change the rules. It is going to be very hard for them to change the rules because there are a handful of Republicans who believe in the institution of the Senate and don’t change the rule. But we are not going to make it easy for them to pick a Supreme Court justice.
Maddow came back with an important question.
“Is there an argument to be made, though, if it is a fair statement that that was basically a stolen seat, it isn’t theirs to fill,” Rachel Maddow argued. “In that case, no nominee would be legitimate because that seat should have been filled by President Obama.”
Schumer’s statement was prescient a portends much.
“It’s hard for me to imagine,” Chuck Todd replied. “a nominee that Donald Trump would choose that would get Republican support that we could support. So you are right.”
“So you will do your best to hold the seat open?” Maddow asked.
“Absolutely,” replied Schumer.
Republicans set a precedent when they denied President Obama his Supreme Court Justice pick. It is incumbent on Democrats to return the favor, not our of spite but to ensure one does not reward constant Republican intransigence. It may mean that America spends an extended time with a declining number of Supreme Court Justices.
For too long Democrats simply turned the other cheek one too many times. This time must not be one of them.