President Obama spent part of his weekend calling Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee about the process to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Monday would not say exactly who Obama called on, but cited the conversations as “an indication that this process has begun.”
The calls Obama placed, Earnest told reporters at his daily briefing, are “consistent with his commitment to consult with members of Congress” on his high court pick, as well as the nomination process.
The president and first lady Michelle Obama briefly attended a public viewing of Scalia’s casket at the Supreme Court on Friday but skipped the actual funeral mass on Saturday, which Vice President Biden attended. The president also managed to fit in a round of golf on Sunday, although rain cut short the game at Andrews Air Force Base.
Earnest on Monday continued to push back against Republicans’ decision to block consideration of any nominee he may choose. Earnest called that move “inconsistent with their constitutional authority and inconsistent with the American people’s perception” that senators need to do their jobs.
“We’re interested in keeping the lines of communication open, and the president in those conversations, has been fairly direct about the fact that he does intend to fulfill his constitutional duty and put someone forward,” he said. “And he’s urging the senators to do their constitutional duties.”
Earnest said he planned to nominate someone with “indisputable credentials and qualifications” who can “serve the country with honor and distinction.”
Obama also spent “quite a bit of time” over the weekend reviewing a binder of materials on possible Supreme Court nominees compiled by his legal team, he said.
He said the list Obama is considering is not necessarily final right now.
“The president and his team are still evaluating potential candidates and that work will continue,” he said.
After attending Scalia’s viewing at the high court on Friday, the White House provided reporters a much-noted photo op of Obama toting the binder, his “homework” for the weekend, and walking out of the Oval Office along a colonnade next to the Rose Garden.
