After the Judiciary Committee, led by Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC), recommended the confirmation of Amy Barrett to SCOTUS, Steve Benen remarked:
But as part of this morning’s proceedings, Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) thought it’d be a good idea to deliver a little speech about how convinced he is that Republicans “did the right thing” by engaging in this obvious and ongoing abuse.
The South Carolinian began his remarks by reflecting on the events of 2013, when he and other GOP senators — in the minority at the time — refused to consider any nominees for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, regardless of merit or qualification, because the president was a Democrat.
Senate Democrats responded by restoring majority rule to the process, and Graham this morning insisted that Republicans were the victim of what transpired. Reality makes clear he has this backwards.
The committee chairman proceeded to brag about voting for both of then-President Obama’s first two Supreme Court nominees, conveniently skipping past his treatment of Obama’s third.
All of which led to these comments:
“Now we find ourselves in a situation where qualifications no longer matter. It’s about holding open seats to have them filled after the next election, and we’ve lost sight that the individuals being nominated matter. I think they do matter.”
Graham then went back to patting himself on the back for a job well done.
To be sure, the Democratic members of the Committee boycotted the hearing. Still, I can’t help but think that one of those Senators might have been better served by playing a recording of Senator Graham pledging to not confirm a Justice if primaries have started for a Presidential election.
And then a follow-on statement would do nicely:
You, sir, are a hypocrite and a liar. I hope I never have to work with you again, because you are not trustworthy, and you bring dishonor upon your name and family.
I say this not in anger, but in sorrow, for at one time you held the best interests of the United States at heart, but now you are merely a power-hungry minion of President Trump, and that is no good thing.
Followed by a stalking from the chamber.
I like a little drama with my politics.
