Washington, D.C. -- During the ongoing battle between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid over the SCOTUS pick, many have referenced the tactic used by then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) back in 1992. At the time, Biden was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He said that President Bush should postpone his selection process until after the election.
Should a Justice resign this summer and the President move to name a successor, actions that will occur just days before the Democratic Presidential Convention and weeks before the Republican Convention meets, a process that is already in doubt in the minds of many will become distrusted by all. Senate consideration of a nominee under these circumstances is not fair to the President, to the nominee, or to the Senate itself.
Mr. President, where the Nation should be treated to a consideration of constitutional philosophy, all it will get in such circumstances is partisan bickering and political posturing from both parties and from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. As a result, it is my view that if a Supreme Court Justice resigns tomorrow, or within the next several weeks, or resigns at the end of the summer, President Bush should consider following the practice of a majority of his predecessors and not--and not--name a nominee until after the November election is completed.
Townhall was able to catch up with the Senate Minority Leader today and asked him about the 'Biden Rule' after a press conference outside the Supreme Court building.