Delaware Senator also says critics of then-Senator Biden’s 1992 speech are “wildly over-reading”
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) told reporters this morning that he believes President Obama should nominate a centrist judge for the vacant seat on the Supreme Court. He also discussed misguided criticism of remarks regarding the Supreme Court confirmation process made by then-Delaware Senator Joseph R. Biden in 1992.
Excerpts from The Washington Times’ article:
“[Sen. Coons] pressed Mr. Obama to nominate a balanced, centrist nominee who both parties can rally behind, saying it would be misguided to push for a liberal firebrand who serves as a mirror image of Scalia, the outspoken conservative. ‘I don’t think this moment calls for that,’ Mr. Coons said.”
“Mr. Coons said that critics are ‘wildly over-reading’ Mr. Biden’s lengthy speech, saying the then-senator left the door open to a compromise nominee who would be moderate enough to win his support. He also said Mr. Biden, as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, confirmed a series of circuit and district judges all the way up to September in an election year, so his actions should speak louder than his words that day. ‘Regardless of the debate over what was said, I point towards what he did,’ said Mr. Coons, who was elected in 2010 to succeed Ted Kaufman, the caretaker senator who held the Delaware seat after Mr. Biden rose with Mr. Obama in 2008.”
“Mr. Coons said he thinks there are plenty of Senate Republicans who want to hold hearings on Mr. Obama’s eventual nominee — even beyond Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois and Susan Collins of Maine, who have said as much. He also challenged Mr. McConnell to stick by his promise to open up the Senate floor.”
Read the full article here: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/23/chris-coons-supreme-court-pick-chance-heal-senate/