Democrats on the Senate Judiciary used their time today to audition for the 2020 presidential race, making one incendiary comment after another about President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Instead of using their time to welcome Kavanaugh to his get-to-know-you session, Democrats begged Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) to postpone the hearing pending review of some 40,000 recently released pages of Kavanuagh’s work while counsel to former President George W. Bush. Democrats tried to make the case for delay based in an incomplete record of Kavanaugh whose 12-year record at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals included some 400 opinions covering a wide range of controversial cases ranging from gun control to gay marriage. Yet Democrats did everything possible to delay Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing.
` Democrats know that with a simple majority needed for confirmation, there’s nothing they can do to stop Kavanaugh’s confirmation other than political grandstanding about issues related to auditioning for the 2020 election. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Sen. Amy Klobucher (D-Min.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). all spent time pleading with Grassley to delay the hearing, citing an incomplete record for senators to make an informed decision. But the real reason for the delay was that Democrats simply ran out of options to stop what looks like an inevitable march toward confirmation. While no one knows what outcome of the Midterm elections, Republicans seized the opportunity to replace retired Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy with a solid conservative, like Kavanaugh. Using a confirmation hearing to audition for the 2020 race makes a mockery of Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing.
All of Kavanuagh’s detractors accuse him of trying to end 1973 Roe v. Wade [the federal right to and abortion] and civil rights legislation, especially protections for blacks and gays. “The first three issues have to be addressed for any presidential candidate is can you beat Trump, can you beat Trump and can you beat Trump,” said Jeff Link, an Iowa-based Democratic strategist. Why Link would comment on a Judiciary Committee Supreme Court confirmation hear tells the real story of what Democrats hope to get from the hearing: Publicity. “If they can find a way to make that sort of argument in the context of the Kavanaugh hearing, I think they’ll benefit,” said Link, telling the real story for Democrats about the confirmation hearing. More political grandstanding can’t stop Kavanaugh’s eventual confirmation but can make political statements before the 2010 election heats up next year.
Democrats aired their outrage of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refusing during former President Barack Obama’s last year to give his Supreme Court pick Merrick Garland a confirmation hearing. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Con.) argued that the hearing must stop because Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russian meddling and alleged collusion investigation. While Blumenthal’s not expected to run for president, he’s one of Trump most vociferous critics in the U.S. Senate. Trump called Blumenthal out for lying about his Vietnam War service, something Blumenthal’s admitted to but shows no shame. More feigned outrage came from the attorney of alleged Trump mistress Stormy Daniels, Michael Avenetti, who claims he’s running for the Democratic nomination in 2020, despite zero political experience.
All the Democrat arguments at Kavanaugh’s hearing fell on deaf ears to Republicans, marching ahead with Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Whether admitted to or not by Democrats, Kavanaugh is more than qualified for the Supreme Court, having a superb Yale Legal education, years of executive branch experience and 12 years on the D.C. Circuit Court. Democrats know when they ask Kavanaugh anything of substance, he’s sure to perform at the highest level. All they can do before forced to ask Kavanaugh legal questions is to make political speeches in advance of the Midterm elections. “It’s about Democratic senators trying to re-litigate the 2016 presidential election, and just as importantly, litigating the 2020 election,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), once Trump’s 2016 rival. Democrats hope to paint Kavanaugh as trying to end Roe v. Wade and Obamacare.
Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing has turned into a Democrat audition for the 2020 election. While Democrats claim they want to challenge Kavanaugh on the issues, they’ve done nothing but plead with Grassley to delay the hearing, then accusing Kavanaugh of trying to end abortion rights and Obamacare. Blumenthal argued that because Trump’s an unindicted co-conspirator in the Russian probe, Kavanaugh’s part of conspiracy to get Trump off the hook. Democrats should spend their time more wisely debating constitutional issues, not grandstanding to their base. Whatever happened to Merrick Garland in Obama’s final year is not relevant in Kavanaugh’s hearing. Republicans have the votes needed to confirm Kavanaugh, picking up a few Democrat votes along the way. Instead of whining about the process, Democrats should vet Kavanaugh on the real issues.
