The journalists at NBC and ABC on Friday set up a no-win scenario for the Republican response to Joe Biden’s Supreme Court choice Ketanji Brown Jackson. According to ABC, she is a “pragmatist” and “consensus builder. Who could possibly oppose someone as shrewd? (Realistically, even It Washington Post admitted she’s deeply liberal.)
NBC’s Chuck Todd whined that Jackson would get 80 votes in the Senate, if not for the extreme members of the GOP who aren’t allowed to vote for her. He huffed, “She may have 80 senators who, if they didn’t have to publicly say that they were supporting her, would support her. But the politics these days, particularly of how things are going on the right side of the aisle, I think will limit it.”
The Meet the Press anchor complained, “I’d be surprised if the number is more than 55, 56 max for her.”
Evidently, he didn’t realize that Amy Coney Barrett received 52 confirmation votes (0 Democrats), in the Senate. Brett Kavanaugh was awarded 50 votes (1 Democrat), and Neil Gorsuch garnered 54 votes (3 Democrats). It appears that this number is lower than 55, 56 according to our last check.
Even though Todd won’t admit it, sure sounds like Democrats are constrained by an extreme base that won’t let them vote for qualified nominees.
Devin Dwyer from ABC News cheered Jackson for being a moderate.
Never before has there been a Supreme Court public defender. An individual with so much experience in criminal defense of ordinary Americans, who have to pay for an attorney by themselves, is not able to afford one. This is clearly what the President believes. Her strengths include being a facilitator and consensus-builder, as well as a pragmaticist. As a junior judge, it will be difficult to accomplish this feat.
Jackson has been “applauded” by the radical NARAL, supports gun control and even the liberal The Washington Post agreed:
Jackson’s confirmation would not affect the current conservative 6-to-3 supermajority on the court. Her vote would include affirmative action and LGBTQ protections. She also supports gun rights.
This echoes MSNBC on Friday morning calling the nominee “middle of the road.”
Below are partial transcripts. Click “expand” to read more.
ABC News Live Coverage
2/25/2022
2:27 PM ETDEVIN DDYER (ABC News Senior Washington Reporter): This historic selection is not only based on gender and race, but also on perspective and experience. The Supreme Court has never had a public defense attorney before. An individual with so much experience in criminal defense of ordinary Americans, who have to pay for an attorney by themselves, is not able to afford one. This is clearly what the President values. Her reputation as a pragmatic and consensus-builder has been described. As a junior judge, it will be difficult to accomplish this feat.
…
NBC News Live Coverage
2/25/2022
2.25 PM ETLESTER HOLT : I’m Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director. Chuck, reread what Peter said. There are rumors within Republicans that support may not be guaranteed as it was before. You are left to decide what you think.
CHUCK TODD (Chicken Todd): Lisa Murkowski makes a great example, because this is someone who voted once for her. Her re-election is on the horizon. It’s a quirky setup in Alaska where there isn’t a full-fledged Republican primary, it’s going to be a top four system. It’s not surprising that she opposed a Trump Supreme Court nominee. You know, she may politically decide it’s a better place for her to be saying, “I thought the Trump picks were too conservative and the Biden picks were too liberal.” That wouldn’t shock me here. Lester, the important point here is that you have to remember that some Republican senators will support her if she runs for President in ’24. They don’t want to give away that vote. Some Republican senators may not want to sit in primary elections and are afraid of having to do so. She may be supported by 80 senators, even if they weren’t required to say publicly that they support her. It is unlikely that she will get more than 80 senators, given the political climate, and especially the way things are moving on the left side of the aisle. She could easily get more than 55 or 56. But look, she’s going to to get confirmed.
About Post Author
