Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly And Megyn Kelly Mull Over Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland
President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court. The New York Times has the news.
“President Obama on Wednesday nominated Merrick B. Garland to be the nation’s 113th Supreme Court justice, choosing a centrist appellate judge who could reshape the court for a generation and become the face of a bitter election-year confirmation struggle.”
As the New York Times notes, Garland is a political centrist and has won praise from both Republicans and Democrats. However, on his show Wednesday evening, Bill O’Reilly said his nomination is doomed since he is expected to side with the liberal wing of the court, especially on such issues as gun control.
“Well, I think it’s doomed and it’s not because of who he is, but because the Republicans have said no matter who you send up here we’re not going to take it up.”
Powers added that despite the gun control issue, Garland is not some left wing nominee and that, indeed, he is a “consensus nominee.” Both she and O’Reilly agreed that he is a very qualified nominee and that if the Senate passes him up, they may be very upset if Hillary Clinton is elected and nominates a far more liberal judge.
“Well Republicans in truth oughta be doing cartwheels. This is as centrist of a nominee that a Democratic president would ever put on.”
Goldstein then said that Republicans are standing back because of a strong principle — this is the tipping point of the Supreme Court and they want to hold out until the next election.
Megyn Kelly then added that the Republicans are holding out; they want to put a judge as conservative as Antonin Scalia on the bench. Constitutional Attorney Jonathan Turley said that Republicans might want to “walk back” and be safe by confirming Merrick Garland, who will be the left to Scalia no matter what.
All three of them talked about the possibility of President Obama pulling Merrick Garland if the Republicans confirm him and Hillary Clinton wins. They all agreed the chances are quite minimal, but one never knows. It would be a very mean thing to do.
Kelly ended the segment by stating although Garland is incredibly qualified, that doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all about ideology and power politics. There were many mixed opinions about Judge Garland on Twitter.
Not sure how I feel about Merrick Garland. From the little I've heard I don't like, but I'll reserve further judgment until I hear more…
— Steph Curvy (@CHilla415) March 16, 2016
The nomination of Merrick Garland is just one of the many issues that has politically divided the United States in a year where there seems to be more division in this country in decades. Do you think Merrick Garland will eventually be voted to serve on the Supreme Court? Let us know in the comments section.
[Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]
