Schumer advocated ‘obstructionism’ over Bush high court pick in 2007

Printed from: https://newbostonpost.com/2016/02/16/schumer-in-07-we-should-not-confirm-any-bush-nominee-to-the-supreme-court/

(CNSNews.com) – Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is describing current GOP calls to let the next president make a Supreme Court nomination “obstructionism,” but in 2007 Schumer said, “I will do everything in my power to prevent one more ideological ally from joining (Justices John) Roberts and (Samuel) Alito,” and recommended the Senate, “should not confirm any Bush nominee to the Supreme Court except in extraordinary circumstances.”

“The Supreme Court is dangerously out of balance,” Schumer told the American Constitution Society on July 27, 2007.

“With respect to the Supreme Court at least, I will recommend to my colleagues that we should not confirm any Bush nominee to the Supreme Court except in extraordinary circumstances.”

“I will do everything in my power to prevent one more ideological ally from joining (John) Roberts and (Samuel) Alito on the court,” Schumer later added.

On Saturday the Republican leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.),said the selection of the next justice to replace deceased Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia should fall to the next president.

On Sunday, Schumer called McConnell’s actions “obstructionism.”

“Here, he doesn’t even know who the president’s going to propose and he says ‘no we’re not having hearings, we’re not going to go forward’ – to leave the Supreme Court vacant for 300 days in a divided time. This kind of obstructionism isn’t going to last,” Schumer told ABC’s This Week.

— Written by Eric Scheiner