Leahy: Most GOP senators will oppose Kagan

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/101825-leahy-most-gop-senators-will-oppose-kagan


Leahy: Most GOP senators will oppose Kagan
By J. Taylor Rushing - 06/07/10 05:19 PM ET


Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Monday predicted a majority of Senate Republicans will oppose Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan for partisan reasons.

Leahy said in a Senate floor speech that Kagan will prove to be a highly qualified choice during her confirmation hearings next month but that GOP opposition to her will be "a sad reality" because most Republicans have an "extreme ideological litmus test" for judicial nominees.

"I candidly admit that after watching the unfounded opposition to the {Sonya} Sotomayor nomination last year, I would not be surprised if a majority of Republican Senators were to vote against Solicitor General Kagan, despite her qualifications and no matter how she answers questions during the course of the hearing. Such opposition has nothing to do with the nominee," Leahy said. "I have joked that if President Obama nominated Moses, the lawgiver, or Mother Theresa, Senate Republicans would vote against the nomination. Such is the willingness of many Republican Senators to heed the extreme ideological tests imposed by the far right.

"Indeed, were Justice Sandra Day O’Connor the nominee pending today, or Justice David Souter or Justice John Paul Stevens or, for that matter, Justice Anthony Kennedy, it is a sad reality that a majority of current Republican Senators would likely vote against their confirmations, as well, for failing that extreme ideological litmus test."

Leahy plans to start Kagan's confirmation hearings June 28.

[Political Tiger]

1. I think that's a given. n/t

[napi21]

2. It might well be a given, but it's disgusting that one Party is

so extreem! I really hope they get smashed in Nov. Even if they don't, they may find themselves in the same spot as Brown from Mass. "We put you there and we'll take you out!"

[onehandle]

3. Most GOP senators would oppose Jesus if he came back and was appointed by Obama for anything.

File this under, duh.

[Godhumor]

5. Jesus was about social welfare--he would face unified opposition

Absolutely no question in my mind they would be actively soliciting for a new messiah.

[msongs]

4. well there's a surprise... to some presidents. repubs will oppose about everything they do nt

[bigdarryl]

6. what do you expect from the party of NO!!!

[bluethruandthru]

7. If they all oppose her and she doesn't get confirmed....

Obama should nominate someone as far left as possible. He should then keep putting up the most liberal judges he can find. He needs to let the pubs know that Kagan is the best they'll get and they should count themselves lucky to have her!

[AtomicKitten]

8. Opposition is the GOP's default setting. nt

[Arkana]

9. Patrick Leahy is stating the obvious, more or less.

They'll vote against her because she's Obama's choice--no other reason.

[bigwillq]

10. I'm shocked.

Not. :rofl:

She'll be confirmed, though, and, right now, there's no reason why she shouldn't.