Tipsheet

Steyer Reveals the Real Issue He Has With Trump's Judicial Nominations

Beth Baumann
Beth Baumann  |  February 08, 2020 10:20 AM

During Friday night's Democratic debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, Billionaire Tom Steyer issued a warning about Republicans' so-called "young, right-wing radicals" that are being appointed to the courts.

"They've been cheating. What we saw Mitch McConnell do, not just in the Supreme Court with Merrick Garland, across the board with federal judges, was to refuse to allow President Obama's picks to be considered," Steyer explained. "That's why Mr. Trump has appointed so many federal judges. In fact, the Republicans refused to allow President Obama to get his due."

According to the billionaire, every single one of the 2020 Democrats on the debate stage feels "virtually the same" about supporting Roe v. Wade and gun control, two things that are considered "litmus tests" for Democratic voters.

"There's something else going on. These Republicans are in control. They're stacking the court for a generation with young, right-wing radicals," he said. "And we've watched it happen. The question is what are we going to do about it?"

Steyer acknowledged former Vice President Joe Biden, saying "he is right" about the Democrats needing to "be victorious" this year.

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"We're in trouble. So the question is, look at these people. Who can pull together the Democratic Party?" he asked, referencing his opponents on the debate stage.

What Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) did following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia was say the Judiciary Committee should put confirmation hearings on the backburner during an election year. Specifically, he was citing then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Biden's 1992 floor speech argued court confirmation hearings should take place after the election. That became know as the "Biden rule," even though it's not laid out in the Constitution. 

You can't cherry-pick when it's okay to apply these rules, Tom. Biden created the rule when it benefited the Democratic Party. McConnell is simply applying it when it benefits the Republicans. We like to call that politics.