After a years-long battle with cancer, Ginsburg’s passing on Friday prompted a flurry of statements from Democrats and Republicans alike, many paying tribute to her long career on the Supreme Court, where she championed progressive causes.
President Donald Trump was caught on film as reporters informed him of the news that RBG had died.
Reacting with a surprise “Wow” before saying “she led an amazing life… whether you agree [with her] or not.”
President Trump later issued a statement calling the late justice a “titan of the law,” while a spokesperson for the president confirmed to AFP that flags at the White House would fly at half-staff to mark her passing.
Note: President Trump kept politics out of his Ruth Bader Ginsburg condolence letter.
Statement from the President on the Passing of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pic.twitter.com/N2YkGVWLoF
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2020
Joe Biden
Joe Biden, also mourned Ginsburg’s death, saying she “stood for all of us” and “practiced the highest American ideas as a justice.”
Of course, unlike President Trump, Clueless Joe wasn’t able to put politics aside for one moment, adding, that Ginsburg’s replacement should wait until after the presidential race.
“There is no doubt – let me be clear – that the voters should pick the president, and the president should pick the justice for the senate to consider,” Biden said in a statement to reporters.
.@JoeBiden: "She practiced the highest American ideals as a Justice. Equality and justice under the law. Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us."
On #SCOTUS process: "The voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider." pic.twitter.com/fg4czmmObE
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 19, 2020
Congress Mourns RBG While Taking Political Jabs
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel reiterated his vow to leave no vacancies in the Supreme Court before the end of the 2020 race, in which the GOP risks losing its majority in the upper chamber. While McConnel celebrated Ginsburg’s “extraordinary American life,” he insisted Trump’s replacement nominee “will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
The Senate leader’s stance is, of course, hypocritical considering the fact that following the sudden death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016.
At the time, McConnel insisted on delaying any confirmation vote for his replacement until after the 2016 election, ultimately running out the clock until Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland expired.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel releases statement on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (Source: NBC News) pic.twitter.com/r8379egA8f
— David Custer (@DavidLukeCuster) September 19, 2020
Leaders in the House of Representatives also similarly marked Ginsburg’s passing.
Chuck Schumer
Taking a subtle jab at McConnell, the Senate’s Democratic Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer, quoted the Republican’s words in 2016 verbatim, arguing “this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president” and that “the American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.”
The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 18, 2020
In a separate tweet, Schumer celebrated Ginsburg’s career, calling her “a champion for justice” and “a trailblazer for women.”
Tonight, we mourn the passing of a giant in American history, a champion for justice, a trailblazer for women.
She would want us all to fight as hard as we can to preserve her legacy.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 18, 2020
Nancy Pelosi
The Democrats stuttering alcoholic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi noting that flags on Capitol Hill were also flying at half-staff to “honor [her] patriotism,”
Tonight, the flags are flying at half staff over the Capitol to honor the patriotism of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Every woman and girl, and therefore every family, in America has benefitted from her brilliance.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) September 19, 2020
We must honor Justice Ginsburg’s trailblazing career and safeguard her powerful legacy by ensuring that the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court upholds her commitment to equality, opportunity and justice for all.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) September 19, 2020
While the GOP’s House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, said Ginsburg had “served the Supreme Court – and the country – faithfully for 27 years.”
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a trailblazer who served the Supreme Court—and the country—faithfully for 27 years. My prayers go out to her family during this time.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) September 19, 2020
While RBG’s Death Prompted a Rare Moment of Peace in Washington, It Won’t Last For Long.
The battle over her replacement is set to be a bitter partisan struggle, as the GOP-led Senate is likely to race to confirm President Trump’s nominee ahead of the November election.
Democrats, meanwhile, having had plenty of practice during the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh, will certainly attempt to delay the process as long as possible.
Biden, Pelosi, and Schumer will play every repugnant card the Democrats have hoping to take over the Senate and the White House before President Trump, and the Republican Senate fills RBG’s ultra-liberal seat with a conservative justice.
Related story: Who Will Replace RBG on the Supreme Court?
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