Democrats accuse Gorsuch of hiding his legal views

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico


The Supreme Court nominee is avoiding specifics 'like no one I have ever seen before'

By SEUNG MIN KIM and JOSH GERSTEIN 03/22/17 11:44 AM EDT Updated 03/22/17 01:26 PM EDT

Senate Democrats accused Neil Gorsuch of not being forthcoming with his views Wednesday, sparking a quick backlash from Republicans who said Democrats were holding the Supreme Court nominee to an unfair standard.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat, quizzed Gorsuch early at the second day of questioning over his belief that the Constitution should be interpreted strictly as when it was written — pressing him repeatedly on what his originalist philosophy means for gay rights and access to abortion.

As he did in his first day of interrogation, Gorsuch insisted that “no one is looking to return to the horse-and-buggy days.” But that wasn’t satisfying Democrats as they made their case against his confirmation. “You have been very much able to avoid any specificity like no one I have ever seen before,” Feinstein told Gorsuch. “Maybe that’s a virtue, I don’t know. For us on this side, knowing where you stand on major questions of the day is really important to vote ‘aye,’ so that’s why we press, and press, and press.”

More and more, Democrats are raising concerns that Gorsuch is dodging key questions as senators engage in an increasingly contentious battle over whether to confirm him to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Gorsuch is reluctant to weigh in with specifics on how he would rule on a case that might appear before him, but Democrats argue the high court hopeful needs be much more detailed with his answers.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/neil-gorsuch-legal-views-democrats-respond-236352

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. "Gosh, so we might as well go ahead and vote to confirm." NT

[PatSeg]

2. Repulicans said Democrats

were holding the nominee to an unfair standard??? At least they are giving Gorsuch a chance to answer questions. That's a lot more than republicans gave Garland Merrick. I think the republicans are really a whiny bunch!

[KPN]

3. He absolutely hiding his views -- behind the "role or duty of a good judge"

which says absolutely nothing about his views which heretofore have smacked of facsism and bigotry. Essentially, he's deflecting, saying "the job made me do it", "it was my job, not me". A classic deceitful tactic to appear as something other than what one is.

[Angry Dragon]

4. He has said that he can keep his beliefs out of his rulings ........ so I see no problem

for him to state his beliefs because they will have no bearing on any decisions

The way he is answering he has BIG things to hide

[Panich52]

5. Yesterday's testimony was one evasive answer after another

No reason to expect otherwise as hearing continues