Sen. Lindsey Graham issued a “promise” to Senate Democrats if they filibuster the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court:
He’s vowing to change the Senate rules — the so-called “nuclear option” — if they block a vote.
“If you filibuster Judge Gorsuch, you’re telling President Trump and every other Republican, ‘We don’t care that you won,'” Graham said on CNN Thursday night.
“He’s the most qualified person President Trump could have chosen, beyond reproach in terms of his qualifications. It would basically be setting aside the election and denying President Trump his ability to appoint a Supreme Court justice and I will not let that happen,” Graham said.
Graham is so determined to get a vote, he went so far as to admit he didn’t even vote for Trump, but still believes he ought to get the nominee he chooses.
“I’m telling my Democratic colleagues: if you do not allow an up-or-down vote on this guy after what I’ve done in the past? And you don’t care about the traditions of the Senate? And you don’t care about President Trump being treated fairly? I didn’t vote for him. I didn’t vote for Obama. I haven’t vote for a president who won in 12 years,” he said.
“But the one thing I will not do is allow President Trump to be denied what every other president’s had the ability to do is nominate qualified people, so yes, I’m not going to play the game two different ways.
“I hope I never have to get (to the nuclear option), but I want you to know, I am not going to play the game where they get everything they want and we never get anything.”
“That’s a threat,” host Kate Bolduan interjected, “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“That’s a promise,” Graham said with a laugh.
Leave a Comment
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.