The Biden campaign announced Saturday that it opposes the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
What a shocker.
Judge Barrett “has a written track record of disagreeing with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding the Affordable Care Act. She critiqued Chief Justice John Roberts’ majority opinion upholding the law in 2012,” the Democratic nominee explained in a statement made available to the Washington Examiner.
It adds, “The American people know the U.S. Supreme Court decisions affect their everyday lives. The United States Constitution was designed to give the voters one chance to have their voice heard on who serves on the Court. That moment is now and their voice should be heard. The Senate should not act on this vacancy until after the American people select their next president and the next Congress.”
On Saturday, after President Trump nominated Barrett to the Supreme Court, the conservative judge promised to serve the judicial body in the manner of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom she clerked.
“I fully understand that this is a momentous decision for a president, and if the Senate does the honor of confirming me,” Barrett said. “I pledge to discharge the responsibilities of this job to the very best of my ability. I love the United States, and I love the United States Constitution. I am truly humbled by the prospect of serving on the Supreme Court.”
She added, “It is important at a moment like this to acknowledge family and friends, but this evening, I also want to acknowledge you, my fellow Americans,” she said. “The president has nominated me to serve on the United States Supreme Court, and that institution belongs to all of us. If confirmed, I would not assume that role for the sake of those in my own circle, and certainly not for my own sake. I would assume this role to serve you.”
Biden’s running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a statement mirroring the Democratic nominee’s.
“Trump’s hand-picked successor to Justice Ginsburg’s seat makes it clear: they intend to destroy the Affordable Care Act & overturn Roe,” the senator announced. “This selection would move the court further right for a generation & harm millions of Americans. I strongly oppose Judge Barrett’s nomination.”
Like Biden, Harris refers to the current Supreme Court vacancy as “Ginsburg’s seat.” It is not “Ginsburg’s seat.” It was never “Ginsburg’s seat.” Harris and Biden know this. That they choose to characterize the vacancy this way, despite their combined experience in the federal government, is not great. That they choose to use the term “Ginsburg’s seat” even despite their shared experiences serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee is extremely not great.
Also, on a side note, Harris’s use of the term “hand-picked” to describe Trump’s nominee is particularly weird. How does she think judicial nominations work? A lottery?
Anyway, the Biden and Harris statements are about as shocking as the sunrise. It was always going to be opposition. Biden and Harris were always going to be a no, regardless of who Trump nominated. The White House could have announced Saturday that they were appointing Clone Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, and the Democratic nominee would still oppose it because he cannot possibly give the Republican incumbent a win during the election.
That’s politics, baby!
