Clinton Schools GOP Senators About How Supreme Court Nominations Work
Hillary Clinton spent a few minutes giving a civics lesson to Republicans during a fundraising speech in Denver.
At a fundraiser Saturday night, Hillary Clinton lit into Republican Senators for balking on the idea of confirming an Obama-appointed Supreme Court justice before he leaves office.
Hillary Clinton called Senator Mitch McConnell’s statement that the next president, not President Obama, should appoint a successor to Justice Scalia “disappointing” and “totally out of step with our history and our constitutional principle.”
Speaking at a Democratic fund-raising dinner in Denver, Mrs. Clinton denounced Republican presidential candidates and the Senate majority leader’s pledge to not allow Mr. Obama to replace Mr. Scalia, who passed away at a West Texas ranch on Saturday. “For any of us who needed a reminder of just how important it is to take back the U.S. Senate and hold onto the White House, just look at the Supreme Court,” Mrs. Clinton said.
“I know that our thoughts and prayers are with the Scalia family tonight and I am also thinking and praying for the future of our country,” she said. “It is outrageous that Republicans in the Senate and on the campaign trail have already pledged to block any replacement that President Obama nominates”
“Barack Obama is the president of the United States until Jan. 20, 2017,” she continued. “That is a fact, my friends, whether Republicans like it or not.”
And he has a Constitutional duty to nominate a successor to fill that vacancy, just as Republicans have a duty to give that nominee a vote. It's up to us to make sure they understand that duty and carry it out.