CNN’s Sellers: Another Trump SCOTUS pick would mean US is ‘screwed for generations’

CNN commentator Bakari Sellers said the country would be “screwed for generations” if President Trump’s next Supreme Court nominee is confirmed, adding that he’s “extremely pissed off” at every Democrat who didn’t vote in 2016.

“It’s definitely moving further to the right. I think that it’s definitely becoming a Republican arm for certain,” said Sellers, a former South Carolina state lawmaker and CNN commentator, late Wednesday, referring to the Supreme Court. “I was having a conversation with my colleague today, Ali, and she came in the office and said, ‘Bakari, we’re screwed.’ And I said, ‘no, you’re incorrect. We’re not screwed. We’re actually screwed for generations.’ “

{mosads}The commentary comes as cable news coverage has been dominated by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy’s announcement on Wednesday that he will retire next month at the age of 81.

“I think that the gravity of this is something we have to take heed of,” Sellers said.

“The fact that Justice Kennedy was the only thing standing between the abolishment of Roe versus Wade. Justice Kennedy is the only reason we have affirmative action in this country. We have extreme consequences for a few things. And tonight I’m extremely pissed off with [Sen.] Bernie Sanders [I-Vt.], with [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell [R-Ky.]. I’m pissed off with every single Democrat who didn’t come out in vote in 2016,” he added.

“The Republican Party did something by sacrificing all the norms of the United States Senate, something they hadn’t done in 150 years plus,” he said. “And now we have to reap what we’ve sown. I’m not sure we understand the gravity of it.”

Anchor Don Lemon then jumped into the discussion to note that the conservative of the panel, CNN contributor Scott Jennings, was enjoying the moment.

“Scott, you need a napkin because you’re drooling, you’re smiling so much. You’re loving this,” said Lemon.

“Bakari, you left one person off your list. How quickly we forget. We have to thank the man who made this all possible, [former Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid [D-Nev.], who back in 2013 changed the rule,” said Jennings, adding later. “I’m going to go to Vegas on Friday. I’m going to give Harry a fruit basket.”

Republicans have been quick to point out that Reid abolished the filibuster for federal judicial nominees, albeit not for Supreme Court nominees.

Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, was confirmed by a 54-45 vote, with McConnell in deploying the so-called “nuclear option” to push Gorsuch through without the 60 votes otherwise needed break a filibuster, citing Reid’s filibuster abolishment four years earlier.

McConnell has promised to begin a confirmation process in the fall for the president’s selection, despite Democratic objections that it shouldn’t be done during a midterm election year.