This morning on MSNBC, Chuck Todd poured some cold water on the suggestion that Republicans might boycott Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings. Or at least he tried.
Todd may be right, but it’s worth keeping in mind that Republicans have already boycotted the confirmation hearing of one Obama judicial nominee, and much, much more.
David Hamilton was nominated to serve on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in March. Despite a record of moderation, Republicans boycotted his first confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, forcing a second hearing weeks later. After that they delayed a vote to report him out of committee and finally they voted in unison against moving his nomination to the full Senate. And, for good measure, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) is threatening to filibuster him.
Obviously there are important differences between the Appeals Courts and the Supreme Court, but it’s probably not worth discounting the lengths to which Senate Republicans will go to drag out a confirmation process if they feel in any way slighted.
