President Obama on Thursday bashed Senate Republicans’ reasoning that the voters should weigh in on the Supreme Court in the 2016 presidential election and that consideration of a nominee should wait until then.
“One of the most puzzling arguments that I’ve heard from [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell and some other Republicans is this notion that the American people should decide. We should let the American people decide as part of this election, who gets to fill this seat,” Obama told NPR in an interview set to air in full on Friday morning. “Well, in fact the American people did decide — back in 2012 when they elected me president of the United States with sufficient electoral votes.”
“And they also decided that the Republicans would be in the majority,” the President continued. “They didn’t say we’re going to decide that you are going to be in charge for three years and then in the last year you all take a break. They say ‘No, you’re the president for four years and Mr. McConnell you’re going to be the leader because we’ve given you a Majority in the Senate.”
Since Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, Republicans have reiterated that they will not hold hearings or a vote for Obama’s nominee. While some senators have suggested considering Garland during the lame duck period if a Democrat wins the White House, Senate Republican leaders have rejected that idea.
