OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz slammed Democrats’ handling of past Supreme Court nomination hearings on Monday and reminded them how they acted just a few years ago.
During the first day of confirmation hearings for nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, Cruz tore into Democrats’ treatment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings in 2018, which he called “one of the lowest moments” in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s history.
“Your hearing will feature none of that disgraceful behavior,” Cruz said to Jackson during his opening remarks. “No one is going to inquire into your teenage dating habits or ask ‘do you like beer,'” Cruz said, referencing the still-unproven allegations Democrats brought up against Kavanaugh during his hearing.
Cruz told Jackson that her hearings will focus on her record and questioning will focus on ascertaining “what kind of justice” she would be.
“It is no longer the case that Supreme Court confirmation hearings are merely about qualifications… our Democratic colleagues have abandoned that standard long ago,” Cruz said.
“Our Democratic colleagues want the Supreme Court to be anti-Democratic. Our Democratic colleagues get frustrated with the Democratic process. When they can’t pass gun-control laws because the American people don’t support them, they want elected judges to mandate those same laws instead,” Cruz added.
“Law after law after law that they cannot get to the democratic process, the Democrats have decided it’s much simpler to convince five lawyers in black robes than to try to convince 330 million Americans. That is why Supreme Court confirmation hearings have become so contentious, it’s because the Supreme Court has arrogated to itself a responsibility the Constitution doesn’t give it, which is to make contested policy decisions and take them away from the American people,” he added.
WATCH:
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) refers to sexual assault allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh as “teenage dating habits.” pic.twitter.com/dpXl8kjFXC
— The Recount (@therecount) March 21, 2022
The media is already whining that Americans “aren’t aware” of President Joe Biden’s pick.
Roll Call published a story complaining that a recent survey found that most Americans have no idea who Brown is and aren’t familiar with her background.
Roll Call reported:
That opportunity is available: Only about one in four voters identified Jackson by name as the Supreme Court nominee in a C-SPAN/Pierrepont Survey, with another 15 percent who could report that the nominee is a Black woman judge.
Jackson will get a chance to introduce herself again. When she did so at the White House at her nomination announcement, she spoke of the hope that her life and career could inspire future generations, the way she was inspired by Constance Baker Motley, the first Black female federal judge. Biden’s selection of a Black woman has meant extra scrutiny for the way politicians and Washington insiders talk about a confirmation fight and could energize voters ahead of the midterm elections this year.
The Democratic caucus can stick together and confirm Jackson without the help of Republicans, and none of the Senate’s 48 Democrats and the two independents who caucus with them have voted against any of Biden’s judicial nominees on the Senate floor.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke about Jackson on Sunday and whether he would vote for her confirmation after declining to support her nomination to the D.C. Court of Appeals in 2013 when then-President Obama nominated her to succeed then-Judge Merrick Garland.
“That would have been an easy thing for her to do, to defend the integrity of the court. She wouldn’t do that. So, in the meantime, the committee will ask her all the tough questions. I haven’t made a final decision as to how I’m going to vote,” he said.
“I’m going to listen to the evidence. I’m going to listen to the hearings. And by the way, she’ll be treated much better than Democrats typically treated Republican nominees like Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh,” McConnell continued.
“It will be a respectful, deep-dive into her record, which I think is entirely appropriate for a lifetime appointment,” McConnell added. “I’m willing to listen to the testimony. That’s why we have hearings.”
