During a panel discussion on October 13, Dana Bash, the chief political correspondent for CNN, observed of the confirmation hearings for Judge Amy Comey Barrett before the Senate Judiciary Committee that it was “impressive to Republicans and Democrats” that Barrett didn’t have any notes in front of her. Dash said that the lack of notes illustrated Barrett’s confidence in her arguments and her qualifications for the position on the Supreme Court for which President Trump nominated her.
After which Dash’s ex-husband, CNN anchor John King, stated: “Let’s be honest. Number one, if we could roll back the clock, we’re not so close to the election. Number two, if we could roll back even further to another Republican president in another age — I’ve been in Washington long enough — Judge Amy Coney Barrett would be getting 70 votes or more in the United States Senate.”
“No question,” Bash agreed.
“Because of her qualifications,” King added.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has set the date for a committee vote on Barrett for October 22, with a vote going to the entire Senate by the end of October, shortly before the presidential election on November 3.
In a column posted on Hot Air on October 13, columnist Ed Morrissey analyzed King’s remarks and seemed to think that in view of the Senate votes on previous Supreme Court candidates nominated by Republican presidents, Barrett might not fare much better, even if she had been nominated by George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan.
Morrissey observed that, in contrast to Democrats, Republicans were much more inclined to vote for candidates nominated by president to soothe the opposite party and even joined in supporting Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a 96-3 vote in 1993.
Morrissey also pointed to the vote on Samuel Alito, a well-qualified candidate who had served 16 years on the Third Circuit when George W. Bush nominated him for the High Court. His confirmation in 2006 only passed by 58-42, with only four Democrats voting for his confirmation.
Previously when the first President Bush nominated Clarence Thomas, the vote to confirm was 52-48, and only after a bitter confirmation process.
Even the popular Republican President Ronald Reagan was not immune from intense opposition. One of his nominees, Robert Bork, who was clearly qualified, observes Morrissey, was blocked in a then-unprecedented partisan filibuster.
Morrissey conceded that King made a good point about the partisan nature of these Senate proceedings, but in his opinion they long precede Donald Trump.
If Barrett’s votes fall short of what she deserves, it is likely that it will be because of Democrat’s anger that Trump nominated any candidate at all so close to the election, rather than opposition to an obviously well-qualified candidate. Despite this, Barrett will likely be confirmed.
