McConnell: Dems would filibuster Ginsburg if Trump nominated her

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday lashed out at Democrats for what he called an “unprecedented partisan filibuster” against Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

The Kentucky Republican called Gorsuch an “eminently qualified” judge who “with no Democratic opposition — none” was confirmed to his federal judgeship.

“And yet, the Democratic leadership is now determined to block his confirmation with the first successful partisan filibuster of a Supreme Court nominee in American history,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.

{mosads}“Democrats would filibuster Ruth Bader Ginsburg if President Trump nominated her. We all know why.”

McConnell accused Democrats of “bowing to hard-left special interests” in response to an election result they cannot accept.

McConnell specifically chided Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), pointing to his comments prior to Trump’s inauguration that indicated he was willing to indefinitely block the president’s nominee for the Supreme Court. 

Schumer told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow in early January he would “absolutely” do his best to hold the seat open.

“It seems some Democrats made up their minds long ago to oppose whomever this president nominated,” McConnell said Wednesday. “The Democratic Leader himself indicated as much before Judge Gorsuch was even selected.

“He even mused on a liberal talk show about holding the seat open indefinitely. So it doesn’t really matter who this president nominates,” he continued. “Perhaps that’s why Democrats still have yet to put forward a cogent rationale to oppose him.”

Meanwhile, bipartisan efforts to avoid a “nuclear” showdown over Gorsuch’s confirmation ground to a halt on Wednesday, setting a up a change to Senate filibuster rules on Thursday as Republicans will move to approve him with a simple majority vote.