A prominent Democrat is urging President Biden to follow an unusual figure as he braces for his first Supreme Court nomination contest.
Stephanie Cutter, a Democrat strategist, wants President Biden to follow Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s aggressive Supreme Court tactics. Despite being a Democrat’s worst nightmare, Cutter wants Biden to do the same.
Democracies have praised Cutter’s New York Times op-ed against the Supreme Court on social media, notably Demand Justice Executive Director Brian Fall. This week, Cutter, Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation “sherpa,” gave a different interview.
Stephanie Cutter, veteran of many SCOTUS battles: "Biden shouldn’t look to the process we followed in the Sotomayor nomination. Instead, he should look to the nomination and confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett" and move swiftly.https://t.co/vS7aWpTdmW
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) January 29, 2022
According to one Senate Democrat aide, in his quick 30-day nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett right before the 2020 election, McConnell set a precedent.
Court Nomination Process
Former Democrat strategist Sandy Maisel said Biden must not rush the Supreme Court nominee or confirmation process.
Biden vowed to replace outgoing Justice Stephen Breyer with a black woman by the end of February. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott have joined House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn in expressing their support for Childs, a fellow South Carolinian.
This sends a clear message to Sen. McConnell and Republicans that a Supreme Court appointment is a serious matter. A Senate Republican aide said “Democrats will constantly be playing catch-up.”
Cutter said Republican lawmakers “rubber-stamped” the Supreme Court nominations of former President Trump. That was because they didn’t spend weeks studying their decisions and analyzing legal nuances for questions that might come up at a hearing.
One employee laughed off Cutter’s claim. The insider stated, “She just identified Judge Brown as a contender.” They may want to force her through if that’s the pick.
Biden’s Disgraceful Speech
During this week’s National Prayer Breakfast, Biden tried to be too friendly with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Biden said, “Mitch, I don’t want to harm your image, but we’re buddies, and we are not experiencing enlightenment right now.”
President Biden on Sen. Mitch McConnell: “You’re a man of honor.” pic.twitter.com/IGdIkJbhmv
— The Recount (@therecount) February 6, 2022
“You’ve always done what you’ve stated,” he continued. “You are a man of honor and word. Thank you for your friendship.”
In 2016, McConnell blocked then-President Obama from appointing now-Attorney General Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.
Regardless of his previous barbs at Republicans, Biden’s apparent aim for more collaboration in Washington might explain his change in tone towards McConnell.
This week’s stroke of New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan emphasized the Democrats’ vulnerability in terms of the Senate majority. Lujan won’t return to work until after his operation.
The White House wants the Senate’s Supreme Court guidance, not just permission. Biden even welcomed the Senate Judiciary Committee’s top Republican to this week’s conference.
Biden’s aides didn’t say for sure when they were asked if he was stressing unity in the process of getting elected.
“The president is committed to appointing a competent woman, a black woman, to the Supreme Court,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday. “He thinks whoever he appoints should have credentials and qualifications that Republicans and Democrats should evaluate.”
Whatever her bipartisan appeal, Maisel believes Clyburn will not get Childs on the Supreme Court. “Trying to give into Clyburn would seem somewhat like political revenge,” he argued. “Biden is OK.”
