Garland: The Man in the Middle

Many Republicans may be up in arms over the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court and incensed at the idea that the Senate GOP may cave before the next election and hold a hearing to confirm him. But the prospect of a Garland nomination seems just as terrifying to the Left.

Much has been made of Mitch McConnell’s “obstruction” of Garland’s nomination by employing the “Biden rule.” Liberals paint a picture of a moderate Republican McConnell held hostage by an immoderate base baying for liberal blood.

Meanwhile, conservative groups are threatening to unleash hell upon Republicans should they ignore “the will of the people” and hold hearings for Garland — as Sen. Mark Kirk found out after meeting with Garland and telling reporters he “would consider” voting for him.

“It is not ‘closed minded’ to advocate for the right of the people of Illinois to decide what kind of Court they want with their vote in November, instead of allowing the president to rush through another liberal only months before leaving the Presidency,” Judicial Crisis Network Chief Counsel and Policy Director Carrie Severino warned in an official statement.

[lz_bulleted_list title=”Garland: Man in the Middle”]Pro gun control|Pro EPA|Tough on crime and criminals|Pro Citizens United|Views on abortion and other social issues a mystery[/lz_bulleted_list]

“Kirk’s GOP colleagues are being democratic, and we suspect Kirk will learn a little something about that concept in November.” But it seems Democrats are just as concerned about a Garland hearing.

Indeed, Hillary Clinton has dodged questions on Garland’s nomination at least two times this week. On Monday, Clinton spent eight minutes avoiding answering a direct question about Garland’s qualifications for the Supreme Court spot.

On Thursday, in an exclusive interview with Rachel Maddow, Clinton did it again. She was asked by Maddow if she would ask Obama to withdraw the Garland nomination in order to name her own nominee, or if she’d go ahead with it.

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“You know, I really find this whole line of questioning one that I’m not comfortable with,” Clinton said. “We have one president at a time. And I think part of the problem right now is the Republicans are trying to act like he’s not really still president. I was one of the 65 million people who voted to reelect President Obama. So, my voice is being shut out because the Republican Senate won’t actually process — Judge Garland’s — nomination. So, I don’t want to — I don’t want any daylight between me and President Obama,” Clinton said.

Clinton joins the ranks of Democrats like Al Franken, who is perfectly happy to criticize Republican obstructionism yet at the same time refuses to commit to Garland. “I would withhold saying how I’d vote,” Franken said on Wednesday. “The hearings serve a real purpose and I would want to go through the hearing. I’m very predisposed both because of his reputation and, frankly, because of the conversation we had today. But I would want to go through the hearings.”

Republicans are quick to point to red flags in Garland’s past, such as his consistent support of stronger gun control measures and his apparent friendliness towards overbearing EPA regulation. But there is just as much in Garland’s past to give liberals pause.

Garland’s experience as a prosecutor in D.C. — where he aggressively targeted gang crime — is an area of concern for the Black Lives Matter crowd and those crying for criminal justice reform. His relatively unknown stances on abortion and other social issues are also of concern to liberals.

“During 19 years at the D.C. Circuit, Garland has managed to keep a low profile. The court’s largely administrative docket has left him without known positions on issues such as abortion or the death penalty,” writes Richard Wolf for USA Today.

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But perhaps the biggest point of contention between Garland and liberals is Garland’s support for the Citizens United decision, which the average Democrat seems to treat as an act of evil on par with slavery and the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Indeed, it is for that reason alone that Bernie Sanders has promised to ask Garland “to step aside and ask the president to withdraw that nomination” if he is elected president before Garland is seated.

Republicans nervous at the prospect of a Garland hearing and confirmation should take comfort from the fact that the Left is just as concerned.