President Donald Trump’s nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court caused a stir on Twitter late last week. Gov. Walker and Sen. Tammy Baldwin exchanged words on Twitter over Trump’s Supreme Court pick.
After President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland – to fill a vacancy on the court, Republicans immediately got to work to encourage the obstruction of a hearing or a vote, now, Republicans want the immediate advancement of Gorsuch.
But Democrats, including Sen. Baldwin are saying not-so-fast. Soon after Trump announced Gorsuch as the nominee, Baldwin tweeted, “The importance of the Supreme Court and the decisions they make have a profound effect on the daily lives of all Americans so I will do my job to fully review Judge Gorsuch’s record.”
Gorsuch has a record of anti-worker rights, and attacking women’s reproductive rights.
Baldwin said, “I have a number of concerns about this nominee’s deeply troubling record, particularly his rulings against disabled students, against workers, and against women’s reproductive health care.”
Wisconsin Republicans including Scott Walker critizied Baldwin for her stance on Gorsuch.
Gov. Walker tweeted, “Sen. Baldwin is out of the mainstream. Refuses to meet with judge whose experience is nearly identical to Judge Garland.”
Baldwin fired back, saying,
“Your opportunity to weigh in on Gorsuch ended with your short-lived Pres campaign. Focus on fixing WI’s roads and bridges. #priorities.
Madison.com has more on the battle that ensured between the Senator and the Governor and Baldwin’s likely opponents in the 2018 race.
Congressman Sean Duffy, a Wausau Republican who’s widely seen as a possible Baldwin challenger in 2018, also joined in with a statement hammering Baldwin’s stance as “shameful.”
Baldwin’s position does not diverge from her past remarks about Gorsuch, which were critical, or from the growing numbers of other Democrats who are lining up against Trump’s picks for the high court as well as his Cabinet.
But some others facing tough re-election battles in 2018, such as Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., are taking a more cautious tack. McCaskill has said any Supreme Court nominee should have a full confirmation hearing and vote in the Senate. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., also considered vulnerable in 2018, has said he is “anxious” to meet with Gorsuch and that Democrats should not immediately move to block him.
For more, visit Madison.com.
