From The Very Beginning, Democrats Have Tried Anything And Everything To Tank The Kavanaugh Nomination
TOP TAKEAWAYS
- Well before the 11th hour allegations emerged, Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats voiced their opposition to Judge Brett Kavanaugh - with many doing so immediately following announcement of his nomination and without any real justification.
- Unable to think of a legitimate reason to oppose Judge Kavanaugh, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said he did not deserve a "lifetime appointment" because there are "so many serious questions outstanding."
- The same day Judge Kavanaugh's nomination was announced, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) said she would "oppose his nomination" because it "presents an existential threat to the health care of millions of Americans."
- The day after Judge Kavanaugh's nomination was announced, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) said she would only vote for him if he turned "miraculously into a Sotomayor."
- Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) even went so far as to say that supporters of Judge Kavanaugh are "complicit" in "evil."
- Democrats have cited a laughable number of different reasons to delay the confirmation process, showing that current calls to delay the proceedings are just another piece of their resist and obstruct strategy.
- In June, before President Trump even nominated Judge Kavanaugh, Sen. Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the Senate must "consider the President's nominee once the new Congress is seated in January."
- In August, Sen. Cory Booker said because President Trump "chose a Supreme Court nominee who doesn't believe a president can be criminally indicted," the Senate "needs to pause the Kavanaugh hearings immediately."
- In August, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) claimed the confirmation process should be put on hold so the Senate can "continue [the] vital investigation of Trump campaign criminality & obstruction of justice."
- In August, Sen. Harris claimed "Kavanaugh's hearings should be delayed until these investigations [into President Trump] are completed."
- In early September, Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) stated Judge Kavanaugh's hearings should be delayed because of "partisan and incomplete vetting."
SENATE DEMOCRATS' REASONS FOR OPPOSING AND TRYING TO SINK JUDGE KAVANAUGH'S NOMINATION PROVE THEIR OPPOSITION IS PURELY POLITICAL
Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats Have Searched For Any Reason To Oppose Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Nomination - With Some Providing No Real Reason At All
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Said Judge Kavanaugh Did Not Deserve A "Lifetime Appointment" Because There Are "So Many Serious Questions Outstanding." "With so many serious questions outstanding, Judge Kavanaugh should not be rewarded with a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court." (Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Op-Ed, "Dianne Feinstein: Why I'm Voting 'No' On Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court Nomination," Los Angeles Times , 9/16/18)
Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) Said He Would "Vote NO" On Kavanaugh Because He "Misled The Senate, Under Oath, When A Job Promotion Was On The Line." "Time and again, on issue after issue, Judge Kavanaugh has misled the Senate, under oath, when a job promotion was on the line. That is disqualifying. I will vote NO." (Sen. Pat Leahy, Twitter Feed , 9/13/18)
The Day After Judge Kavanaugh's Nomination Was Announced, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) Hinted He Would Vote Against The Nominee, Saying He Was "A Judge Who Consistently Favors Big Business And Undermines Protections For Consumers, Workers, Women, And The Environment." "Brett Kavanaugh is a judge who consistently favors big business and undermines protections for consumers, workers, women, and the environment. Replacing Justice Kennedy's swing vote with a far-right jurist like Judge Kavanaugh could change the rules in America. Just as troubling, in light of the ongoing Russia investigation, Judge Kavanaugh has expressed staunch opposition to criminal investigations of sitting Presidents." (Press Release, "Durbin Statement On President Trump's Supreme Court Nomination Of Brett Kavanaugh," Sen. Dick Durbin , 7/10/18)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Said Judge Kavanaugh Would "Not Get [His] Vote" Because Kavanaugh Failed To Assure Americans "Their Cases Will Be Decided On The Merits, Not The Identities Of The Parties Or The Identities Of Big Interests." "'The Supreme Court needs to stand alone, tall and independent, and Americans should feel confident their cases will be decided on the merits, not the identities of the parties or the identities of big interests appearing behind the scenes. Judge Kavanaugh has failed to give Americans that assurance, and he will not get my vote.'" ("Whitehouse To Vote 'No' On Kavanaugh," Medium , 9/10/18)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Said She Would Not Support Judge Kavanaugh Because He Supposedly "Has Not Been In The Mainstream." "The two then discussed Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, whom Klobuchar said she will not support. 'When you look at the record of this nominee, you see someone who has not been in the mainstream,' the two-term senator argued, though Newberger accused Klobuchar and her colleagues of attempting to 'change [the] court with political ambitions.'" (Anthony Gockowski, "In Minnesota Senate Debate GOP Challenger Blasts Klobuchar For Opposing SCOTUS Nominee Brett Kavanaugh," The Tennessee Star , 8/29/18)
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) Said He "Decided To Vote Against" Judge Kavanaugh's Nomination. "After reviewing the portion of Judge Kavanaugh's record available to us, meeting with him privately, participating in a four-day hearing, submitting written questions & hearing from Delawareans, I have decided to vote against his nomination." (Sen. Chris Coons, Twitter Feed , 9/17/18)
- Coons Said He Reached This Conclusion Based On The Next Justice's "Pivotal Role In Defining The Scope Of The President's Power And Determining Whether The President Is Above The Law, To Impacting Essential Rights Enshrined In Our Constitution." "The next Supreme Court Justice will help shape the future of this country for decades, from playing a pivotal role in defining the scope of the President's power and determining whether the President is above the law, to impacting essential rights enshrined in our Constitution." (Sen. Chris Coons, Twitter Feed , 9/17/18)
The Same Day Judge Kavanaugh's Nomination Was Announced, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Said He Would Be "A 'No' Vote On The Nominee" Because His Record And Writings "Signal An Extreme Hostility To The Precious Rights And Liberties That Make Our Nation Great." "'I will be a 'no' vote on this nominee. Judge Kavanaugh's record and writings -- which I have reviewed -- signal an extreme hostility to the precious rights and liberties that make our nation great.'" ("WHIP LIST: Where Senators Stand On Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh," WTVA , 7/25/18)
- Blumenthal Refused To Even Meet With Judge Kavanaugh Because He Said It Would Be An "Empty" And "Deceptive Charade." "Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., will not be meeting with Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, saying doing so would be an 'empty' and 'deceptive charade.'" (Melissa Quinn, "Blumenthal Refuses To Meet With Kavanaugh: Meeting 'Would Be An Empty, Deceptive Charade,'" Washington Examiner , 8/23/18)
The Day After Judge Kavanaugh's Nomination Was Announced, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) Said She Would Only Vote For Him If He Turned "Miraculously Into A Sotomayor." NPR'S ARI SHAPIRO: "You wrote on Twitter that Kavanaugh has not earned the benefit of the doubt and that he has to demonstrate his ability to exercise unbiased and independent judgment. Are you open to voting for him?" SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): "Maybe if he turns miraculously into a Sotomayor, but it is a high burden for him. And the reason that I said that he does not get the benefit of the doubt is because we know that the president said that he wants someone on the court who will overturn Roe v. Wade and who will also repeal or support repealing the Affordable Care Act, two really important issues for us as well as so many other things on which he's much more inclined to support corporate interests over individual rights." (NPR's " All Things Considered ," 7/10/18)
- Hirono Even Cancelled Her Meeting With Judge Kavanaugh Because She Claimed He Was Selected To Protect "His Own Okole." "I have cancelled my meeting with Judge Kavanaugh. @realDonaldTrump, who is an unindicted co-conspirator in a criminal matter, does not deserve the courtesy of a meeting with his nominee - purposely selected to protect, as we say in Hawaii, his own okole." (Sen. Mazie Hirono, Twitter Feed , 8/22/18)
The Same Day Judge Kavanaugh's Nomination Was Announced, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) Said, "The Nomination Of Judge Brett Kavanaugh To The Supreme Court Is Alarming & I'm Strongly Opposed To His Confirmation." "The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court is alarming & I'm strongly opposed to his confirmation. #ScotusPick" (Sen. Cory Booker, Twitter Feed , 7/9/18)
- Booker Was So Adamant In His Opposition, That He Even Claimed Supporters Of Judge Kavanaugh Are "Complicit" In "Evil." SEN. CORY BOOKER (D-NJ): "There is so much at stake here, this has nothing to do with politics. This has to do with who we are as moral people. I'm not here just to tell folks what they already know, I'm here to call on folk to understand that in the moral moment, there is no neutral. In a moral moment, there are no bystanders. You are either complicit to that evil, you are either contributing to a wrong or you are fighting against it." (Tim Hains, "Sen. Cory Booker: Supporters Of Judge Kavanaugh Are 'Complicit' In 'Evil,'" Real Clear Politics , 7/25/18)
The Same Day Judge Kavanaugh's Nomination Was Announced, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) Said She Would "Oppose His Nomination" Because It "Presents An Existential Threat To The Health Care Of Millions Of Americans." "'Judge Brett Kavanaugh represents a direct and fundamental threat to that promise of equality and so I will oppose his nomination to the Supreme Court. Specifically, as a replacement for Justice Anthony Kennedy, his nomination presents an existential threat to the health care of hundreds of millions of Americans.'" (Press Release, "Senator Harris Statement Opposing Nomination Of Judge Kavanaugh To The Supreme Court," Sen. Kamala Harris , 7/9/18)
Judiciary Democrats Have Shown Their Calls For A Delay Are Nothing More Than Political Theater, With Some Calling For A Delay Before Judge Kavanaugh's Nomination Was Even Announced
Sen. Feinstein Called On Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) To "Postpone" Kavanaugh's Nomination, "Allow The FBI To Investigate Dr. Ford's Allegations," And "Follow Up On Kavanaugh's False And Misleading Committee Testimony." "@JudiciaryDems are urging Chairman Grassley to postpone Thursday's vote on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination, allow the FBI to investigate Dr. Ford's allegations and follow up on Kavanaugh's false and misleading committee testimony." (Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Twitter Feed , 9/17/18)
- Feinstein Claimed That "The Committee Shouldn't Hold A Hearing Before We've Had A Chance To Review His Entire Record." SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA): "The committee shouldn't hold a hearing before we've had a chance to review his entire record." (Press Release, "Feinstein: Republicans Rushing Supreme Court Hearing to Avoid Transparency," Sen. Dianne Feinstein , 8/10/18)
Sen. Leahy Indicated Kavanaugh's Hearings Should Be Delayed Because Of "Partisan And Incomplete Vetting." "'What are we trying to hide? Why are we rushing?' I've never seen such a partisan and incomplete vetting of a nominee in my 44 years as a senator. Here's today's @washingtonpost on Day 1 of the Kavanaugh hearings." (Sen. Pat Leahy, Twitter Feed , 9/4/18)
- Leahy Complained That They "Received An Additional 42,000 Pages" From Kavanaugh's Record, And Therefore, That "Alone Would Be Reason To Postpone." SEN. PAT LEAHY (D-VT): Finally, we received an additional 42,000 pages from your record just hours ago. The notion that anyone here has properly reviewed them - or even seen them at all - is laughable. That alone would be reason to postpone during normal times." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 9/04/18)
Before Judge Kavanaugh's Nomination Was Even Announced, Sen. Durbin Said The Senate Must "Consider The President's Nominee Once The New Congress Is Seated In January." "'Sen. McConnell set the new standard by giving the American people their say in the upcoming election before court vacancies are filled,' Durbin said in a statement, quoting McConnell's argument over Garland. 'The U.S. Senate must be consistent and consider the president's nominee once the new Congress is seated in January.'" (Alexander Bolton, "Durbin: Supreme Court Confirmation Should Wait Until After Election," The Hill , 6/27/18)
- Durbin Asked The Committee "To Suspend Until All The Documents Of Your Public Career Are There For The American People To See." SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): "For the sake of this nation, for the sanctity of the Constitution that we both honor, step up -- ask this meeting, this gathering -- to suspend until all the documents of your public career are there for the American people to see." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 9/04/18)
- Durbin Again Called "On Senate Republicans To Delay" The Judiciary Committee Vote On The Supreme Court Nomination Of Kavanaugh. "I am calling on Senate Republicans to delay next week's Judiciary Committee vote on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh." (Sen. Dick Durbin, Twitter Feed , 9/15/18)
Sen. Whitehouse Claimed That Allegations Against Kavanaugh Require "A Pause, At A Minimum, In The Unseemly, Special-Interest-Funded Rush" To Confirm The Nominee. "I admire the courage Ms. Ford has shown in coming forward with her story. This requires a pause, at a minimum, in the unseemly, special-interest-funded rush to put Brett #Kavanaugh on the Court." (Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Twitter Feed , 9/16/18)
Sen. Klobuchar Said Kavanaugh's Confirmation Hearings Should Be Delayed Until Senate Judiciary Democrats Have All "Critical Documents" From His Time In The White House. "Supreme Court nom hearing set for Sept 4th, yet archivist said we won't have critical documents re Kavanaugh's time in White House before Oct. No lawyer goes to court without reading the documents first. Certainly the same standard should apply to the highest court of the land!" (Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Twitter Feed , 8/10/18)
- Klobuchar Claimed The Senate "Should Not Be Proceeding Until We Have A Response And These Documents Have Been Available." SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-MN): "Yesterday my colleagues and I sent a letter to the White House counsel asking that the president withdraw his claim of privilege over these documents so that they can be made available to this committee and to the American people. We have not yet received a response to that letter, so we should not be proceeding until we have a response and these documents have been available. It is 102,000 documents." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 9/04/18)
- Klobuchar Also Stated That Before The Senate Proceeds With Kavanaugh's Nomination "The White House Must Ask The FBI To Reopen Its Background Check." "Before we proceed on the nomination of Judge Kavanaugh, the White House must ask the FBI to reopen its background check. A full vetting is standard procedure for our nation's highest court. The American people deserve to know the facts." (Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Twitter Feed , 9/20/18)
Sen. Coons Called Number Of Kavanaugh's Records Available And The Date His Hearings Were Being Held "Unacceptable." " "Despite the fact that the American people will have access to only a small % of Judge Kavanaugh's extensive record, his confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin next week. That's unacceptable for a lifetime position on the nation's highest court." (Sen. Chris Coons, Twitter Feed , 8/31/18)
Sen. Blumenthal Insisted That "Providing All These Documents Is A Threshold Question Of Our Moving Forward With Any Meeting, Or, In My View, Any Proceeding." " SEN. BLUMENTHAL: "My view is that absolutely, fully and completely providing all these documents is a threshold question of our moving forward with any meeting, or, in my view, any proceeding." (Conference Call with Senate Democrats, 7/23/18)
- Blumenthal: "Kavanaugh Hearing Must Be Immediately Postponed So Judiciary Committee Can Continue Vital Investigation Of Trump Campaign Criminality & Obstruction Of Justice." "Kavanaugh hearing must be immediately postponed so Judiciary Committee can continue vital investigation of Trump campaign criminality & obstruction of justice." (Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Twitter Feed , 8/22/18)
- Blumenthal Made A Motion To Adjourn "So That We Have Time To Conclude Our Review Of These Documents." SEN. BLUMENTHAL: "So, Mr. Chairman, I renew my motion to adjourn so that we have time to conclude our review of these documents and so that also, my request under the Freedom of Information Act, which is now pending, to the National Archivist, to the Department of Justice, to other relevant agencies, can be considered and judged. That Freedom of Information Act will require some time, I assume, to conclude." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 9/04/18)
- Blumenthal Later Called For Another Postponement Because Allegations Against Kavanaugh "Must Be Fully & Fairly Investigated." "The Senate Judiciary Committee must now give these allegations the serious weight they deserve. They must be fully & fairly investigated. Unquestionably, the Kavanaugh confirmation vote must be delayed." (Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Twitter Feed , 9/16/18)
Sen. Hirono Called On Judge Kavanaugh To "Join Us In Our Call For This Committee To Suspend Until We Receive All Relevant Documents And Have A Chance To Review Them." " SEN. HIRONO: "If you stand behind your full record in public life, fundamental fairness would dictate that you join us in our call for this committee to suspend until we receive all relevant documents and have a chance to review them." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 9/04/18)
- Hirono Said The Allegations Against Kavanaugh Were "Yet Another Reason Not To Rush Brett Kavanaugh's Nomination. The Committee Should Postpone This Week's Vote." "This development is yet another reason not to rush Brett Kavanaugh's nomination. The Committee should postpone this week's vote." (Sen. Mazie Hirono, Twitter Feed , 9/16/18)
Sen. Booker Said He Did "Not Believe That This Committee Should Or Can In Good Conscience Consider A Nominee Put Forward By This President Until That Investigation Is Concluded." SEN. BOOKER: "I do not believe that this committee should or can in good conscience consider a nominee put forward by this president until that investigation is concluded." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Executive Business Meeting, 6/28/18)
- Booker: "We Should Delay This Until The Mueller Investigation Is Concluded ." SEN. BOOKER: "We should delay this until the Mueller investigation is concluded." (Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Executive Business Meeting, 6/28/18)
- Booker Said Because "Trump Chose A Supreme Court Nominee Who Doesn't Believe A President Can Be Criminally Indicted," The Senate "Needs To Pause The Kavanaugh Hearings Immediately." "Trump's longtime personal lawyer Cohen: Guilty. Trump's former campaign chairman Manafort: Guilty. It's no coincidence Trump chose a Supreme Court nominee who doesn't believe a president can be criminally indicted. The Senate needs to pause the Kavanaugh hearings immediately." (Sen. Cory Booker, Twitter Feed, 8/22/18)
Sen. Harris Called President Trump An "Unindicted Co-Conspirator In Federal Crimes" And Stated That "Kavanaugh's Hearings Should Be Delayed Until These Investigations Are Completed." "The president is an unindicted co-conspirator in federal crimes and he has nominated someone to the Supreme Court who believes a sitting president should never be indicted. Retweet if you agree that Kavanaugh's hearings should be delayed until these investigations are completed." (Sen. Kamala Harris, Twitter Feed, 8/30/18)
- Five Days Later, Harris Said She "Objected To Moving Forward With The Kavanaugh Hearing Because This Process Has Not Been Transparent Or Fair" And That His "Hearings Should Be Delayed Now." "I objected to moving forward with the Kavanaugh hearing because this process has not been transparent or fair. These hearings should be delayed now." (Sen. Kamala Harris, Twitter Feed , 9/4/18)
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