Kasich on Nominating Merrick Garland If He Were President [+video]
By Melanie Hunter. GOP presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that as president, he would consider nominating D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court pick.
“Well, you know, he received overwhelming support, I think even from Senator Hatch. So, of course we’d think about it,” Kasich said when asked if he would “take a look” at Garland if he were president.
“Let me ask you a presidential question about Merrick Garland put forward by the president for the Supreme Court. This could be a decision you have to handle. What is your sense of — what is your feeling about the way that your Republican colleagues have responded to that nomination from the president?” host John Dickerson asked.
“Well, look, I never thought the president should send it, because I knew nothing was going to happen. I mean, frankly, they probably ought to all sit down and meet with the guy, and my feeling is, at the end of the day, whoever gets elected president should be in a position to be able to pick who they want,” Kasich responded.
“And the American people will decide by either voting for a Republican or Democrat what the makeup of the court is. I just think that is a process that can unite us, rather than a process that right now continues to divide us,” he added. (Read more from “Kasich on Nominating Merrick Garland If He Were President” HERE)
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McConnell: Merrick Garland Would Move Supreme Court ‘Dramatically to the Left’
By Melanie Hunter. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told “Fox News Sunday” that D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s pick for the U.S. Supreme Court to replace the late Antonin Scalia, will “move the court dramatically to the left.”
“This judge would move the court dramatically to the left. He’s enthusiastically supported by MoveOn.org,” said McConnell.
“Some of your Republican colleagues are already suggesting that if your side, if the GOP loses the election in November, that perhaps they would consider Judge Garland in a lame duck session because, in fact, he might be more moderate than, let’s say, Hillary Clinton’s nominee would be,” host Chris Wallace said, referring to Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).
Flake said, “I think Republicans are fully justified in doing what we’re doing — waiting. And — but if we happen to lose the election, then I think we ought to push him through quickly if we can.” (Read more from “McConnell: Merrick Garland Would Move Supreme Court ‘Dramatically to the Left'” HERE)
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