Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Mitch McConnell's deputy, threatened potential Supreme Court nominees that they'd get beat up and their careers would be damaged by the Senate if President Obama even nominates them.
"I think they will bear some resemblance to a piñata," said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.
"What I don't understand is how someone who actually wants to be confirmed to the Supreme Court would actually allow themselves to be used by the administration in a political fight that's going to last from now until the end of the year," Cornyn told a small group of reporters in the Capitol.
He added: "Because there is no guarantee, certainly, after that time they're going to look as good as they did going in."
Cornyn, by the way, is a member of the Judiciary Committee, that august body that acts as the gatekeeper to the federal judiciary. His comments were so offensive, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid had the CNN article they were reported in entered into the Congressional Record and slammed Cornyn and fellow Republicans on the Senate floor. "Think about that," he said. "They don't know who the nominee is, they don't know anything about the person, but they already have in their mind they are going to beat this person like a piñata. … I think they've been listening to Donald Trump too much. The Republicans need to stop and listen to this disgusting rhetoric they're spewing."
Cornyn came back to Reid later by doubling down on his threats and actually saying it would be President Obama's fault if a nominee's professional reputation was harmed. "I would be surprised," he said, "if any person who actually aspired to be on the United States Supreme Court, a current judge or a legal scholar or lawyer, would allow themselves to be used by this administration in making a nomination to the Supreme Court for a seat that will not be filled during the remainder of President Obama's term. Knowing that they won't be confirmed." Because, of course, it's President Obama's fault that Senate Republicans are refusing to do their constitutional duty.
Taking the Senate back this November is going to be extremely satisfying. You can see more of Reid's remarks below.
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