Republicans Go on Offense on Religion at Barrett Hearing as Democrats Pivot to Obamacare
Senate Republicans at the Monday Supreme Court confirmation hearings pushed harder against “religious tests” posed to Judge Amy Coney Barrett, even as Senate Democrats dropped the subject and pivoted toward criticisms of her alleged opposition to the Affordable Care Act.
The Republican strategy, prompted by criticisms of Barrett’s Catholicism in the weeks leading up to the hearings, featured prominently in the opening remarks of many members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, including those of Chuck Grassley, Ben Sasse, and Josh Hawley. All three claimed Democrats have been biased against Barrett, as well as other religious nominees, because they hold personal views out of step with the legal consensus on abortion, gay marriage, and religious liberty.
Both Sasse and Hawley delivered lengthy speeches on the subject, with Sasse decrying “religious tests” posed by Democrats and Hawley slamming the party as displaying unconstitutional, open hostility to faith.
“This bedrock principle of American liberty is now under attack,” Hawley said, referencing previous questions about faith posed by Democrats to Barrett and others.
Democrats, however, denied the bias and steered clear of religion. Instead, they focused on healthcare, arguing that Barrett is an opponent of former President Barack Obama’s signature achievement in office. Sen. Chris Coons said in his remarks that he and other Democrats will not consider Barrett’s faith, but rather her legal record. He said that a court with Barrett would do “irreparable harm” to civic order, pointing specifically to the Obamacare lawsuit. (Read more from “Republicans Go on Offense on Religion at Barrett Hearing as Democrats Pivot to Obamacare” HERE)
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