Posted on 02/25/2016 11:19:16 AM PST by jazusamo
Greg Nash
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) slammed Senate Republicans on Thursday for their refusal to consider President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court.
Pelosi said the Republicans' strategy of waiting for the next president to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia marks a "breathtaking" case of neglect that "flies in the face" of their constitutional duties.
"Republicans' contempt for functioning government and their disrespect for the president knows no bounds," Pelosi said during a press briefing in the Capitol. "Evidently it isn't enough for Republicans to merely shut down government or threaten the full faith and credit of the United States of America. They must sabotage the Supreme Court, too."
Responding to reports that Obama is considering Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a Republican, Pelosi endorsed the idea of reaching across the aisle.
"I don't know that the president is considering Gov. Sandoval," she said. "Yes, I think it's a good idea for the president to consider a Republican, or a Democrat, to the court."
Sandoval on Thursday reportedly dropped out of consideration for the court seat.
Behind Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Republicans say they won't meet with Obama's eventual nominee, nor will they hold hearings or stage a vote on his pick. The consequences are too significant, they argue, to grant such power to a final-year president amid a high-stakes election to fill his shoes.
"We believe the American people need to decide who is going to make this appointment rather than a lame-duck president," Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said this week.
The Republicans are pointing to past comments from a long list of Democratic leaders -- including Vice President Joe Biden -- who have occasionally argued against filling a Supreme Court vacancy in a presidential election year.
Pelosi is joining other Democratic leaders in rejecting the GOP's argument, saying there's a sharp distinction between voting down a nominee and refusing to consider one at all.
"I don't remember anybody saying the president should not appoint, and we will not even interview his appointee; we will not have a hearing. That's what I'm talking about obstruction," she said. "To say, 'We're never going to interview anyone he names, and we're not going to have a hearing on the subject,' ... that flies in the face of what the intention was of Congress."
A number of Democrats have argued that the Republicans' refusal to consider Obama's pick carries hints of racism. That list includes Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the presidential hopeful, and Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Pelosi, for her part, stopped short of lobbing charges of racism. But she suggested there are valid reasons to think race is a factor in the Supreme Court fight, and she accused the Republicans of obstructing Obama from his first days in office.
"He has extended the hand of friendship over and over again, and they have rejected that. And it's hard to understand why," she said.
"I don't know if I go to that point [of charging racism]," Pelosi added. "I respect the views of those who hold it, though."
She has a short memory regarding the Rats passing 0bamacare, "We have to pass it to find out what's in it."
oh yeah.. and ya’ll were so.. “respectful” of W !!!
...
not!
Nancy Pelosi’s disrespect and disobedience to Almighty God...knows no bounds.
..said the woman who fraudulently certified 0dunga’s candidacy and also destroyed America’s health care system.
I thoguht imitation was the highest for of flattery.
Imitating former Senators Obama and Biden’s position on election year Judicial appointment is disrespectful how?
I would remind madam Pelosi that disrespect, much like respect, is earned.
Pelosi is batcrap crazy. And it looks like her botox is wearing off.
Wow... she’s still around? I thought they had her stuffed and mounted over the entrance of a men’s room in the Capitol building.
if that witch can point out a boundary, we’ll damn sure cross it
Might be a thinly veiled race card.
I have no problems admitting my hatred for this evil man has no bounds....I wish nothing but bad luck for evil and he is the embodiment.
She’s such a ditz.
She’s right.
I don’t have any respect for him and even less for her.
Bump!
Pelosi is actually right. Indeed, I don’t even disrespect the negro community organizer from Chicago it is far beyond disrespect.
And every bit of it well earned!
Tell her to chill, we’ll send it to committee in 2017 and the nominee will get the vote they deserve.
Yeah, Nancy, it*s all about *RESPECT*
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