Former President Bill Clinton is weighing in on whether Democrats should have discussed a replacement on the Supreme Court before Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death.
Host of CBS’s “Face the Nation” Margaret Brennan asked Clinton if Democrats are missing an opportunity by failing to consider a replacement sooner.
“Probably, but we all respected Justice Ginsburg a lot and we thought we had no business talking about her as if she were already gone. And we were hoping she would live for longer,” Clinton said.
He added, “I don’t think there’s anything to be done about that.”
Watch his comments below:
Should Democrats have discussed a replacement on the Supreme Court sooner? "
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 20, 2020
Probably…we had no business talking about her as if she were already gone. And we were hoping she would live for longer," @BillClinton tells @margbrenan pic.twitter.com/rocYP7kEc3
Clinton argued if one more Republican is added to the court, “They’re giving up the health care bill for 20 million people’s health insurance.”
Other Democratic leaders, including former President Barack Obama, urged Republican lawmakers to wait until after the November presidential election to fill Ginsburg’s seat, as IJR previously reported.
Ginsburg’s “most fervent wish” prior to her death was she “will not be replaced until a new president is installed,” as IJR previously reported.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) revealed on Sunday Democrats “have arrows in our quiver” should President Donald Trump attempt to push a nominee through in a lame-duck session if Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is elected.
Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton called efforts to fill the seat “another blow to our institutions.”
During a speech on Sunday, Biden said if he is elected, “Trump’s nominee should be withdrawn, and as a new president, I should be the one who nominates Justice Ginsburg’s successor.”
Two key Republican senators have voiced their opposition to a nomination ahead of the election.
Both Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) released statements to voice their disapproval of the efforts to push a nomination through.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told ABC he believes Senate Republicans will have the votes to confirm Trump’s selection before the election.