GOP senator cautions against obstructionism trap on SCOTUS opening
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) on Tuesday broke ranks with some in his party over the fight over to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, saying Republicans should not be so quick to rule out any potential nominee that President Obama might put forth.
“I think we fall into the trap, if we just simply say sight unseen — we fall into the trap of being obstructionist,” Tillis said in an interview on “The Tyler Cralle Show,” as first reported by ThinkProgress.
{mosads}Tillis called on Obama to nominate someone as conservative as Scalia, adding that he would not support a liberal nominee.
“If he puts forth someone that we think is in the mold of President Obama’s vision for America, then we will use every device available to block that nomination, wait for the American people to voice their vote in November, and then move forward with the nomination after the election,” Tillis said.
“Our concern, based on the actions of this president, is that he’s going to put forth someone who is ideologically aligned with him, and I think that’s out of step with the American people,” he added.
Shortly after Scalia’s death Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) put out a statement calling for the vacancy to be filled after the presidential election.
“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice,” McConnell said. “Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President.”
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