SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks with reporters following the weekly policy luncheons at the U.S. Capitol June 26, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)
#MidtermsBeforeSCOTUS Takes Off as Democrats Told to 'Stiffen Their Spines'
"Here it is, plain and simple. McConnell set the rule. Now, he and Senate Republicans need to follow it."
Jun 27, 2018
"Mitch McConnell should follow the Mitch McConnell rule. Let the American people have a say when women's health and equal rights are on the line."
As the #MidtermsBeforeSCOTUS hashtag began to take off on Wednesday, that was how Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) responded to the news that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring, a move that gives President Donald Trump the chance to nominate a second ultra-conservative justice and push the high court even further to the right.
"No nominee should be considered until AFTER the election."
--Sen. Jeff Merkley The "McConnell rule" Warren cites is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's infamous 2016 declaration that no Supreme Court justice can be confirmed during an election year--a completely fabricated directive that allowed McConnell to steal a high court pick from former President Barack Obama.
After McConnell declared that he plans to hold a vote on Kennedy's replacement this fall, Democrats are attempting to use the so-called "McConnell rule" to stop any attempt by Trump to nominate a virulently right-wing nominee who would give the Supreme Court's conservative wing the power to tear down abortion rights and same-sex marriage.
\u201cHere it is, plain and simple. \n\nMcConnell set the rule. \n\nNow, he and Senate Republicans need to follow it.\n\nNo vote on a Supreme Court nominee until after the new Congress is seated.\u201d— Chris Murphy (@Chris Murphy) 1530128971
Speaking on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said it would be "the absolute height of hypocrisy" for Republicans to vote on a court nominee before the crucial 2018 midterms.
"Our Republican colleagues in the Senate should follow the rule they set in 2016: Not to consider a Supreme Court justice in an election year," Schumer added. "Millions of people are just months away from determining the senators who should vote to confirm or reject the president's nominee and their voices deserve to be heard."
Schumer's demand was echoed by several other senators immediately following Kennedy's retirement announcement on Wednesday.
"No nominee should be considered until AFTER the election," wrote Sen. Jeff Merkley on Twitter.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) opted to quote McConnell's words directly:
\u201cThe American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. #Kennedy\u201d— Tammy Duckworth (@Tammy Duckworth) 1530124274
Given that, as Vox's Matt Yglesias writes, McConnell "doesn't care" that he is a massive hypocrite or that his own words are now being used against him, activists argued that Democrats are going to have to "stiffen their spines" and stop playing nice if they are to ensure that no Trump nominee gets a vote before November's elections.
\u201cNeil Gorsuch was appointed to the Supreme Court by the GOP illegally blocking Merrick Garland. The Dems need to stiffen their spines and BLOCK any nomination until Garland is seated. Period. #NoSurrender #nojusticenojustices! @TheDemocrats @DNC\u201d— Josh Fox \ud83d\udc00\u2721\ufe0f (@Josh Fox \ud83d\udc00\u2721\ufe0f) 1530128214
"There are just a few months until the midterms," noted political commentator and radio host David Pakman. "Democrats should block ALL SCOTUS confirmation hearings until voters have had a chance to have their voices heard in the midterms."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
"Mitch McConnell should follow the Mitch McConnell rule. Let the American people have a say when women's health and equal rights are on the line."
As the #MidtermsBeforeSCOTUS hashtag began to take off on Wednesday, that was how Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) responded to the news that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring, a move that gives President Donald Trump the chance to nominate a second ultra-conservative justice and push the high court even further to the right.
"No nominee should be considered until AFTER the election."
--Sen. Jeff Merkley The "McConnell rule" Warren cites is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's infamous 2016 declaration that no Supreme Court justice can be confirmed during an election year--a completely fabricated directive that allowed McConnell to steal a high court pick from former President Barack Obama.
After McConnell declared that he plans to hold a vote on Kennedy's replacement this fall, Democrats are attempting to use the so-called "McConnell rule" to stop any attempt by Trump to nominate a virulently right-wing nominee who would give the Supreme Court's conservative wing the power to tear down abortion rights and same-sex marriage.
\u201cHere it is, plain and simple. \n\nMcConnell set the rule. \n\nNow, he and Senate Republicans need to follow it.\n\nNo vote on a Supreme Court nominee until after the new Congress is seated.\u201d— Chris Murphy (@Chris Murphy) 1530128971
Speaking on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said it would be "the absolute height of hypocrisy" for Republicans to vote on a court nominee before the crucial 2018 midterms.
"Our Republican colleagues in the Senate should follow the rule they set in 2016: Not to consider a Supreme Court justice in an election year," Schumer added. "Millions of people are just months away from determining the senators who should vote to confirm or reject the president's nominee and their voices deserve to be heard."
Schumer's demand was echoed by several other senators immediately following Kennedy's retirement announcement on Wednesday.
"No nominee should be considered until AFTER the election," wrote Sen. Jeff Merkley on Twitter.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) opted to quote McConnell's words directly:
\u201cThe American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. #Kennedy\u201d— Tammy Duckworth (@Tammy Duckworth) 1530124274
Given that, as Vox's Matt Yglesias writes, McConnell "doesn't care" that he is a massive hypocrite or that his own words are now being used against him, activists argued that Democrats are going to have to "stiffen their spines" and stop playing nice if they are to ensure that no Trump nominee gets a vote before November's elections.
\u201cNeil Gorsuch was appointed to the Supreme Court by the GOP illegally blocking Merrick Garland. The Dems need to stiffen their spines and BLOCK any nomination until Garland is seated. Period. #NoSurrender #nojusticenojustices! @TheDemocrats @DNC\u201d— Josh Fox \ud83d\udc00\u2721\ufe0f (@Josh Fox \ud83d\udc00\u2721\ufe0f) 1530128214
"There are just a few months until the midterms," noted political commentator and radio host David Pakman. "Democrats should block ALL SCOTUS confirmation hearings until voters have had a chance to have their voices heard in the midterms."
"Mitch McConnell should follow the Mitch McConnell rule. Let the American people have a say when women's health and equal rights are on the line."
As the #MidtermsBeforeSCOTUS hashtag began to take off on Wednesday, that was how Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) responded to the news that Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring, a move that gives President Donald Trump the chance to nominate a second ultra-conservative justice and push the high court even further to the right.
"No nominee should be considered until AFTER the election."
--Sen. Jeff Merkley The "McConnell rule" Warren cites is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's infamous 2016 declaration that no Supreme Court justice can be confirmed during an election year--a completely fabricated directive that allowed McConnell to steal a high court pick from former President Barack Obama.
After McConnell declared that he plans to hold a vote on Kennedy's replacement this fall, Democrats are attempting to use the so-called "McConnell rule" to stop any attempt by Trump to nominate a virulently right-wing nominee who would give the Supreme Court's conservative wing the power to tear down abortion rights and same-sex marriage.
\u201cHere it is, plain and simple. \n\nMcConnell set the rule. \n\nNow, he and Senate Republicans need to follow it.\n\nNo vote on a Supreme Court nominee until after the new Congress is seated.\u201d— Chris Murphy (@Chris Murphy) 1530128971
Speaking on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said it would be "the absolute height of hypocrisy" for Republicans to vote on a court nominee before the crucial 2018 midterms.
"Our Republican colleagues in the Senate should follow the rule they set in 2016: Not to consider a Supreme Court justice in an election year," Schumer added. "Millions of people are just months away from determining the senators who should vote to confirm or reject the president's nominee and their voices deserve to be heard."
Schumer's demand was echoed by several other senators immediately following Kennedy's retirement announcement on Wednesday.
"No nominee should be considered until AFTER the election," wrote Sen. Jeff Merkley on Twitter.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) opted to quote McConnell's words directly:
\u201cThe American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. #Kennedy\u201d— Tammy Duckworth (@Tammy Duckworth) 1530124274
Given that, as Vox's Matt Yglesias writes, McConnell "doesn't care" that he is a massive hypocrite or that his own words are now being used against him, activists argued that Democrats are going to have to "stiffen their spines" and stop playing nice if they are to ensure that no Trump nominee gets a vote before November's elections.
\u201cNeil Gorsuch was appointed to the Supreme Court by the GOP illegally blocking Merrick Garland. The Dems need to stiffen their spines and BLOCK any nomination until Garland is seated. Period. #NoSurrender #nojusticenojustices! @TheDemocrats @DNC\u201d— Josh Fox \ud83d\udc00\u2721\ufe0f (@Josh Fox \ud83d\udc00\u2721\ufe0f) 1530128214
"There are just a few months until the midterms," noted political commentator and radio host David Pakman. "Democrats should block ALL SCOTUS confirmation hearings until voters have had a chance to have their voices heard in the midterms."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.