Just minutes after President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats quickly made clear they will do everything possible to obstruct his confirmation to the Court. But under Barack Obama, Democrats were singing a different tune when they claimed a speedy process was needed to confirm Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
Dems in 2009…
- Senator Leahy claimed, “we all know that Judge Sotomayor will be confirmed” so she should be confirmed swiftly to have time to “set up her office” and prepare for the upcoming term.
- On MSNBC, Leahy stated that delaying Sotomayor’s confirmation “would be irresponsible” of Republicans.
- Dianne Feinstein said she was “very disappointed” in the “protracted delay” in Sotomayor’s confirmation, questioning why Republicans can’t “do their due diligence in 74 days” like Democrats can.
Dems in 2010…
- Chuck Schumer said, “there is no reason why [Kagan’s] confirmation should not be completed before the August recess.”
- Red state Democrat Debbie Stabenow called for Kagan to be confirmed “without delay.”
- Patrick Leahy stated, “obviously we’ll finish this summer” so she can be on the court before the start of the fall session.
- California Democrat Dianne Feinstein said Kagan should “be considered by the Senate in a timely manner.”
Time and again, Senate Democrats have made it clear they are willing to obstruct President Trump and his agenda at any cost, even going as far as to obstruct the confirmation of an eminently qualified Supreme Court nominee. But comments from Senate Democratic leaders from past Supreme Court confirmations will only make red state Democrats’ planned opposition to Judge Kavanaugh even tougher.
“Red state Democrats need to reject the partisan games of Chuck Schumer and his cronies and deliver a quick confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court,” said NRSC Communications Director Katie Martin. “Obstructing the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh will only backfire on vulnerable red state Democrats and show voters that all their talk of bipartisanship is nothing but hot air.”