Confused Woodruff questions why McConnell doesn’t support Jackson

A confusion PBS News Hour Host Judy Woodroff Wednesday sought to investigate whether Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell might oppose Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court because some conservatives have indicated support for him.

Biden sounds like a spokesman for the administration Andrew BatesWoodrow claims that Jackson is a historic nominee and does not mean Biden’s commitment to nominate only one black woman, “his nomination has been enthusiastically supported by some prominent conservative judges. Thomas Griffith, Michael Lutig, who called him “the most certified and experienced nominee in history.” What could be a compelling reason to deny him a seat in court?

McConnell responded to Woodroff with the compelling reason for his request, “When I met with Judge Jackson, I tried to advise him in the best possible way that he would like to reflect the comments of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Stephen Brayer opposing the court’s packing, and the Supreme Court.” The term limit … He has decided not to take a position on this issue. If I were him. “

For good measure, McConnell also gave a second compelling reason, “The issue is always: are you a judicial worker or do you believe in the strange notion that Justice Scalia always reminds us that the judge’s job is to follow the law?”

Despite McConnell answering his question, Woodruff wasn’t buying it, “So you think not taking a position is enough to disqualify him?”

The question of whether or not to pack the court is not in the general question covered by the Ginsberg Rule that it is a legitimate concern that journalists and senators should take care of equally.

For his part, McConnell concludes that he is currently undecided, but Republicans will treat Jackson with respect, unlike the way Democrats treated Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanagh.

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Here is a transcript for the March 16 show:

PBS News Hour
03/16/2022
7:30 PM ET

Judy Woodruff: And, finally, a question about Mr. Leader, the nominee of the Supreme Court. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, you know, has been nominated by President Biden, and a confirmation hearing will begin next week on the Senate Judiciary Committee. His nomination has been enthusiastically supported by some prominent conservative judges. Thomas Griffith, Michael Lutig, who called him “the most certified and experienced nominee in history.” What could be a compelling reason to deny him a seat in court?

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Well, as you know, the Senate Hall-Hall is the President’s co-partner in the workers’ business. He nominated and we decided to confirm. The concern of me and many of us is the integrity of the court. When I met with Judge Jackson, I tried to advise him in the most beautiful way possible that he would like to reflect the comments of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Stephen Breyer on the packing of the court and against the Supreme Court’s time limit. Both Justice Ginsberg and Justice Breyer have been outstanding in resisting the left’s voice by advising the Supreme Court to pack or limit the term. He decided not to take any position on the issue. I wish he was. I don’t think he gives any indication of how he can rule in a particular case, but only the honesty of the court. That was frustrating. I think he is a very intelligent, clearly qualified nominee. The problem is always: are you a judicial worker or do you believe in the weird idea that Justice Scalia always reminds us, the job of a judge is to follow the law.

Woodruff: So you think not taking a position is enough to disqualify him?

McConnell: I haven’t made any decisions. I did not announce how I was going to vote. The hearing is next week. They will be completely respectable, completely different from the way Democrats treated Clarence Thomas, completely different from the way Democrats treated Brett Kavanagh.