Showing just how far obstructionist politics can go, a prominent Tea Party activist group has promised action against Kansas GOP Sen. Jerry Moran if he doesn’t back down on support for confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.
The Washington Post reports that Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, said on Friday her group is “furious” with Moran:
“We hope Sen. Moran will reconsider and stand with Kansans and the American people, rather than President Obama and his liberal allies. It’s this kind of outrageous behavior that leads Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund activists and supporters to think seriously about encouraging Dr. Milton Wolf to run against Sen. Moran in the August GOP primary.”
Moran will be running for his second term in the upcoming election. He would be challenged by Wolf, a radiologist who ran against Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan) in 2014, losing by 20,000 votes. He remains active in party politics and is popular with Tea Baggers.
Moran has said he would rather have constituents “complaining to [him] that [he] voted wrong on nominating somebody than saying [he’s] not doing [his] job,” according to previous reporting by Liberal America.
Apparently, though, doing your job doesn’t mean you have to like it. In a new statement released Friday, Moran appears to have already made up his mind about Garland, sans hearing:
“I am opposed to President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee and this administration’s attempt to put another liberal judge on the Supreme Court. As I have said since the vacancy was created, I believe I have a duty to ask tough questions and demand answers. I am certain a thorough investigation would expose Judge Garland’s record and judicial philosophy, and disqualify him in the eyes of Kansans and Americans.”
Recent polls show most Republicans side with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.) in opposing hearings, but a “significant GOP minority” favors Senate confirmation hearings, including Mark Kirk (Illinois) and Susan Collins (Maine), according to The Washington Post.
But a hearing without an open mind? It’s still obstructionist politics and business as usual for the GOP.
Featured image via Facebook.
