General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: BREAKING: President Obama going with Merrick Garland for SCOTUS [View all]1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)You put up a consensus moderate appointee ... when the gop makes good on their promise to NOT give him a hearing, we shine the light on the fact that the gop is going against what the majority of Americans want ... which is campaign material for Senate races.
If the gop balks and give him a hearing, they then have to explain why he was good enough for the DC Court of Appeals, but not the SCOTUS. AND the explanation has to be strong enough overcome their "We will not seat a Justice on your watch" position ... again, pissing off the American electorate.
If they give him a hearing and cannot find a suitable explanation, we get a Justice who will, at a minimum, swing the court to the left.
Great strategy.
And further, putting him out there first ... as the sacrificial, least liberal, lamb ... we still have the more progressive candidates to advance.
Again, Great Strategy.