On Friday, conservatives and Republicans attacked the Associated Press (AP). The story on Ketanji Jackson claimed that Democrats only want the Supreme Court’s appearance to be more like America. Republicans disagree with Jackson’s ability to bring empathy to the position.
The tweet was:
Democrats praised President Joe Biden’s choice of the Harvard-educated lawyer and appellate court judge as long overdue, making the judicial branch begin to look more like America.
Republicans claim Jackson is too empathic for the job. https://t.co/392C6FSXK8
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 25, 2022
Reporter Lisa Mascaro wrote a very tilted story headlined “Supreme Court nominee’s ‘empathy’ is flashpoint for Senate.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Empathy is not a quality many Republican senators want to see in the next Supreme Court justice.
Traditionally considered an admirable attribute, the ability to empathize with another’s plight has become a touchstone for GOP opposition to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
The first Black woman nominated to become a justice, Jackson brings a lifetime of experience never seen before on the high court, which has been filled almost exclusively by white men for most of its 233-year history.
Democrats praise President Joe Biden’s choice of the Harvard-educated lawyer and appellate court judge as long overdue, making the judicial branch begin to look more like America….
Republicans on the opposing side of the Senate are warning Jackson’s inability to be a good fit for the job.
Mascaro also tweets out liberal AP spin.
(AP) — Empathy is not a quality many Republican senators want to see in the next Supreme Court justice.
Traditionally considered an admirable attribute, the ability to empathize with another’s plight has become a touchstone for GOP opposition https://t.co/3toskFfcJr
— Lisa Mascaro (@LisaMascaro) March 25, 2022
Mascaro mentioned a few Republicans and then doubled down.
It’s not the first time the concept of empathy has been wielded as a disqualifying weapon against a nominee for the high court. The empathy standard is not only used against the men who are tapped to serve on the bench; it’s also the second time.
More than a decade ago, Republicans lodged similar arguments against another trailblazing minority woman nominated by a Democrat to the Supreme Court — Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina justice, a Puerto Rican-American who grew up in the Bronx.
Her preference was for the term “empathy” over liberal. The L-word was only used as a Republican pounce: “the ’empathy standard’ swiftly transformed into conservative legal catchphrase for liberal judges.”
Drew Holden tweets a stark contrast between AP coverage and Amy Coney Barrett’s 2020 coverage:
It’s just partisan advocacy. pic.twitter.com/3Xf5S207Rw
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) March 25, 2022
This 2020 tweet by AP also included the article of Lisa Mascaro and two other authors. AP’s alarm at Barrett’s conservative and anti-abortion views back in those days was reflected in their “Catholic faith” coverage.
Curtis Houck, Curtis’s tweeter said “The AP believes that having ‘too many empathy’ for child predators is a marvellous thing and something not to scoff about.”
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