Senator John McCain speaks to the media, March 16, shortly after President Barack Obama nominated Merrick B. Garland to the Supreme Court. McCain said that the confirmation of the next Justice should occur after the election. Now he vows to block Hillary Clinton's choice if she wins the election. (photo: Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
18 October 16
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John McCain (R-Ariz) said Monday that if Hillary Clinton is elected,
Republicans will unite to block anyone she nominates to the Supreme
Court.
Speaking on WPHT-AM radio's "Dom Giordano Program" in Philadelphia, McCain pledged to obstruct any Clinton Supreme Court nomination for the current or any future vacancy.
"I promise you that we will be united against any
Supreme Court nominee that Hillary Clinton, if she were president, would
put up," he declared.
McCain said that's why it is so important that Republicans retain control of the Senate.
Given that two of the sitting justices are 80 or
older, and another is 78, there is a strong possibility that the next
president will have more than one high court opening to fill.
The current court has been operating with just eight
members since last February when Justice Antonin Scalia died
unexpectedly. Republicans have refused since then to confirm President
Obama's nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, on grounds that filling the slot
should be left to the next president.
In his comments on WPHT, McCain seems to have upped
the ante, suggesting that if Hillary Clinton is elected, Republicans
would block any Supreme Court nomination she would make.
McCain spokesperson Rachael Dean later said that
McCain "believes you can only judge people by their record, and Hillary
Clinton has a clear record of supporting liberal judicial nominees."
She went on to add that McCain "will, of course,
thoroughly examine the record of any Supreme Court nominee put before
the Senate and vote for or against that individual based on their
qualifications."
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