GOP Sen. Kirk Vows To Weigh Obama SCOTUS Nom ‘Based On His Record’

FILE - In this June 9, 2014 file photo, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk R-Ill., speaks during an interview in his office. Kirk is the fifth GOP senator to announce support for Loretta Lynch's nomination for U.S. attorney general... FILE - In this June 9, 2014 file photo, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk R-Ill., speaks during an interview in his office. Kirk is the fifth GOP senator to announce support for Loretta Lynch's nomination for U.S. attorney general. Kirk told attendees of the City Club of Chicago on Thursday, April 2, 2015 that he spoke with Lynch about the need to fight gang violence in Chicago and was impressed with her response. President Barack Obama nominated her last year to replace Eric Holder. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File) MORE LESS
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Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) said Wednesday that he would assess President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee “based on his record and qualifications.”

“The Senate’s constitutionally defined role to provide advice and consent is as important as the president’s role in proposing a nominee,” Kirk said in a statement issued shortly after Obama announced Judge Merrick Garland as his nominee.

The statement is keeping with the moderate Republican’s earlier remarks that he would be willing to meet with the nominee, a marked departure from Senate Republicans’ hard line on blocking an Obama nominee to succeed Justice Antonin Scalia.

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  1. Pretty safe comment, since the leadership will never bring him to the floor for a vote. Kirk has nothing to worry about.

  2. Avatar for paulw paulw says:

    I wonder if it will help him pull out re-election, or if it will just make some diehard republicans stay home.

  3. Avatar for maryd maryd says:

    He’s doing his best to sound moderate all of a sudden, but hopefully he’s out come November.

  4. It won’t help you, Mark!

    Your’e out when Illinois pulls the levers for Clinton and Duckworth, your replacement!

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