The White House said Wednesday that President Obama “regrets” his filibuster against Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito in 2006, but insisted the situation was different than Republicans’ current vow to block any nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
“These are two different things,” said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. “The president’s objections to then-President Bush’s nominee were based in substance.”
In 2006, then-Sen. Obama and 23 other Democrats — including Hillary Clinton — tried to filibuster Justice Alito’s nomination. He was confirmed for the high court anyway.
The president’s spokesman said Democrats’ opposition to Justice Alito was different from Republicans’ vow to block a nominee this year because Mr. Obama hasn’t chosen a candidate yet.
Mr. Earnest said Mr. Obama “regrets the vote that he made” and believes he “should have followed his own advice” to make a substantive argument against the Alito nomination.
“What the president regrets is that Senate Democrats didn’t focus more on making a public case” against Justice Alito’s qualifications, Mr. Earnest said.
Mr. Obama said Tuesday that both parties share blame for politicizing judicial nominations.
This is like one of those Ted Cruz apologies that DT was talking about, done AFTER the damage has been done. TM
******* "What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?" Justice Antonin Scalia 1936-2016
Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #2Yeah, right, Obama
The only thing he regrets is how his earlier filibuster is now making him look like the hypocrite he is.
He's not the only one who regrets that filibuster....
You’ll Be Shocked to Learn That Chuck Schumer Is a Massive Hypocrite I hope you’re sitting down, because it appears that Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer has taken a position not out of principled conviction, but because it grants him political gain.
Schumer spoke out Sunday on ABC’s This Week against Republican senators’ plans to filibuster any judicial nominee nominated by Barack Obama in his final months in office.
but alas, here is Schumer in 2007 when faced with a similar challenge. It sounds so different!
"I will do everything in my power to prevent one more ideological ally from joining Roberts and Alito on the court"
******* "What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you'd like it to mean?" Justice Antonin Scalia 1936-2016