As Politico reported over the weekend, the latest “9-9-9” campaign has not only failed to persuade, but its architects are being entirely outmaneuvered:
- “Democrats are getting badly outspent by their conservative rivals in the war over Merrick Garland’s confirmation, suggesting that President Barack Obama’s closest allies in the Supreme Court battle have more bark than bite…And a pressure campaign on vulnerable Republican senators – backed by polling data and liberal groups disrupting campaign events back home – hasn’t budged anyone.” (Burgess Everett, “GOP Rallies Around Court Blockade,” Politico, 5/8/16)
And the New York Times reports today that Democrats are seeing no movement in their attempt to install a new liberal judge before voters have a chance to offer their input on the direction of the court:
- “Democrats, meanwhile, are maintaining their optimism as the Senate returns this week from a recess…They point to each incremental concession — a word of admiration here, a courtesy meeting there — as proof of Republicans’ weakening resolve…Mr. McConnell, however, has emphasized that nearly every Republican senator agrees that the next president should get to nominate a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February.” (Emmarie Huetteman, “For Merrick Garland And Republicans, A Tango Of Praise And Rejection,” New York Times, 5/9/16)
Once again, the Democrats’ “politically convenient fairy tale” fails to move the ball forward as they attempt to tip the balance of the court before hearing from the American people.
RINSE AND REPEAT:
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The Washington Post, 4/14/16: "Democrats hit brick wall in Supreme Court fight…the Democrats’ toolbox appears to be emptying quickly."
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The Washington Post, 4/4/16: "The all-out Democratic advocacy blitz during the two-week recess… has produced no discernible impact…"
- CNN’s Manu Raju, 4/5/16: "The Democratic pressure campaign isn’t yielding much in terms of results."