Ketanji Jackson was a likely candidate to win some Republican votes this week at the Senate confirmation hearings. But given her responses–in particular, her testimony in regard to child porn offenders, her contradictory statements in regard to Critical Race Theory, and perhaps especially her inability to be able to define things like “what is a woman“–she certainly has made it more difficult on herself.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) just came out against her, saying he would be a “no” vote on her confirmation.
I went into the Senate’s consideration of Judge Jackson’s nomination with an open mind.
But after studying the nominee’s record and watching her performance this week, I cannot and will not support Judge Jackson for a lifetime appointment to our highest Court.
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) March 24, 2022
“I went into the Senate’s consideration of Judge Jackson’s nomination with an open mind,” McConnell exclaimed. “But after studying the nominee’s record and watching her performance this week, I cannot and will not support Judge Jackson for a lifetime appointment to our highest Court.”
Polito
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republicans at a Thursday party lunch that Jackson’s nomination is “more controversial than expected,” according to people briefed on the lunch. The GOP’s leaders are expressing a harderening opposition to the nomination.
McConnell on Thursday afternoon announced he would oppose Jackson’s nomination, citing that she “refuses to reject the fringe position that Democrats should try to pack the Supreme Court.” He added that Jackson did not have a sufficient paper trail on constitutional issues and that he was concerned about her sentencing record.
McConnell’s announcement is now likely to lead the way for others. After this week’s testimony, the real question is whether or not any Republicans will be joining Jackson.
It’s hard to imagine any of the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voting for her, given their questions and her answers. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also announced that he’s a “no,” Wednesday night. If anyone would have been a “yes,” it might have been Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) going in, but he was furious at how the left went after another potential candidate whom he liked – Judge Michelle Childs from his state – and he has been very upset with Jackson’s responses in their exchanges, so I’m not seeing that happening. Where Sen. Ben Sasse and Sen. Thom Tillis (R–NC) will go next is the real question.
Republicans already announced that they won”t support a boycott of the vote on the Committee, so the vote is likely to be on April 4. If it’s a tie – if all the Republican Committee members stand together against the nominee – which is possible, then it won’t get voted out of Committee, and the Democrats will have to go for a procedural vote to get it out to the floor.
The floor would be the entire Senate. There, the question would again fall with Senator Susan Collins (R–ME), Sen. Lisa Murkowski(R-AK), or Sen. Mitt Romney. However, the Republicans will still have to elect moderate Democrats.
But McConnell’s announcement Thursday has certainly signaled that this is going to be a tougher fight than the Democrats would have liked.
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