In 1992, while still Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, then-Senator Joe Biden laid out a principled case for how the Senate should handle a Supreme Court vacancy in a Presidential election year
February 24, 2016
VIDEO: New Judicial Crisis Network Web Ad Pits Biden Against Democrats On #SCOTUS
In 1992, while still Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, then-Senator Joe Biden laid out a principled case for how the Senate should handle a Supreme Court vacancy in a Presidential election year. The Washington Post said that Biden offered “rebuttals to virtually every point Democrats have brought forth” on the current Supreme Court fight.
Judicial Crisis Network’s new web ad proves the point.
When Bernie Sanders says that the Constitution lays out that the job of the Senate is to confirm a president’s nominee, 1992 Biden disagreed:
“We have quashed the myth that the Senate must defer to a President’s choice of a Supreme Court Justice.”
While Hillary Clinton wants to ignore historical precedent on Senate action during a presidential year, 1992 Biden made the case for following precedent, and allowing the next President to make the next lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land:
“Action on a Supreme Court nomination must be put off until after the election campaign is over. That is what is fair to the nominee and is central to the process.”
And while Chuck Schumer lectures that the Senate must hold hearings on a Supreme Court pick, then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Biden held a very different view:
“The Senate Judiciary Committee should seriously consider not scheduling confirmation hearings on the nomination until after the political campaign season is over.”
While Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and Chuck Schumer want to stack the court with another Obama liberal for ideological reasons, the Joe Biden of 1992 was willing to make a principled case on the issue.
As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for eight years, you’d be safe to assume Vice President Biden would know what he’s talking about when it comes to Supreme Court nomination procedure. Judicial Crisis Network’s new ad shows why they should listen to him. We hope they do