GOP Senate Leaders Say They Won’t Even Meet With Obama’s SCOTUS Nominee

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., center, is joined at rear by, from right, Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Sen. Roger ... Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., center, is joined at rear by, from right, Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., as they talk to reporters following a closed-door policy meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. McConnell said the Senate will consider legislation to hit North Korea with more stringent sanctions in the wake of Pyongyang’s recent satellite launch and technical advances U.S. intelligence agencies say the reclusive Asian nation is making in its nuclear weapons program. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Senate Republican leaders said Tuesday that not only did they write off the idea of holding hearings for the Supreme Court nominee President Obama submits to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia, but they also refuse to meet with the nominee one-on-one, as is typical of the confirmation process.

When asked by reporters at press conference if he would refuse to meet with the nominee, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) referred to the unanimous recommendation by Republicans on the Judiciary Committee that there should be no hearings.

“I don’t know the purpose of such a visit,” McConnell said.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the chamber’s No. 2 Republican who also serves on the Judiciary Committee, said he did not plan to meet with Obama’s nominee either.

“I don’t see the point of going through the motions, if you know what the outcome is going to be,” Cornyn said. He added that such a meeting would “give a misleading impression that something else is going on.”

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Notable Replies

  1. The GOP, taking infantile-like holding of one’s breath to a whole other level. May they all suffer collective syncope.

  2. Avatar for dnl dnl says:

    Mr_VanHolst. I like to see some hellfire and damnation brought upon their in-august bodies… and recorded on C-Span for public viewing.

    But that’s me… You’re a better man than I am … or would be , if I were a man.

  3. Avatar for imkmu3 imkmu3 says:

    I so hope the press keeps this in the headlines when Obama nominates someone. If he nominates someone other that a white male, the optics will be delicious to behold.

    I’m hoping for a mixed race black/Hispanic lesbian woman. But that’s just me.

  4. With no where else to go … the nominee will land right in McConnell’s lap –

    Can’t wait to see him squirm —

  5. OK… Hillary or Bernie nominates former President Barack Obama… or even better… MICHELLE Obama

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