What They’re Saying – Progressive Organizations

CREDO Action: “Judge Garland’s Background Does Not Suggest He Will Be A Progressive Champion And He Is Not The Justice A Conservative Republican Would Have Nominated, But It Is Pres. Obama's Constitutional Duty To Nominate Supreme Court Justices, And He Is Clearly Qualified.”

“‘Senate Republicans knew Merrick Garland was a well-qualified jurist when they overwhelmingly confirmed him to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit – and they know it now,’ said CREDO Political Director Murshed Zaheed.  ‘Judge Garland’s background does not suggest he will be a progressive champion and he is not the justice a conservative Republican would have nominated, but it is Pres. Obama's Constitutional duty to nominate Supreme Court justices, and he is clearly qualified.’ Zaheed continued. ‘It’s time for Senate Republicans to stop dodging their constitutional duty and confirm Judge Garland without delay,’ he added.” [CREDO Action Press Release, 3/16/16]

MoveOn: “President Obama Has Fulfilled His Constitutional Duty By Nominating Judge Merrick Garland, But Instead Of Fulfilling Their Constitutional Duty, Senate Republicans Are Hell Bent On Running Out The Clock For The Next Nine Plus Months In Hopes Of Allowing President Donald Trump To Make A Pick In Line With His Racist And Bigoted View Of Our Country.”

“‘President Obama has fulfilled his constitutional duty by nominating Judge Merrick Garland, but instead of fulfilling their constitutional duty, Senate Republicans are hell bent on running out the clock for the next nine plus months in hopes of allowing President Donald Trump to make a pick in line with his racist and bigoted view of our country.  ‘It is time for Republicans in the Senate to put country before party and give Judge Garland fair consideration, including a hearing and a vote. Republicans must abandon their unprecedented obstruction. Even for a majority that has taken obstruction to historic levels, this crass political play is a shameless new low. By refusing to even consider this nomination, Republicans are not just disrespecting Judge Garland and President Obama, they are disrespecting the Constitution. Republicans like to say voters should have a say in this process. We agree, and they did. They elected President Obama not once but twice knowing full well he would have the power to make this pick. President Obama has done his job. Now Senate Republicans need to do theirs.’” [MoveOn Press Release, 3/16/16]

Common Cause: “Judge Garland Has A Record Of Service As A Federal Prosecutor, A Senior Justice Department Official And For The Last 19 Years As A Federal Circuit Judge. Senators From Both Parties Met With And Vetted Him, And A Three-Fourths Majority Voted For His Confirmation.”

“Justice Scalia’s death left the President and the Senate with a constitutionally-required duty to nominate and confirm a successor and return the court to full strength. With today’s nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama has done his job; we expect the Senate to do its job by fairly reviewing Judge Garland’s record and qualifications and promptly voting on his nomination.  Judge Garland has a record of service as a federal prosecutor, a senior Justice Department official and for the last 19 years as a federal circuit judge. Senators from both parties met with and vetted him, and a three-fourths majority voted for his confirmation.  Now, Sen. McConnell’s obstructionist leadership means the Senate is refusing to do its job and give the President’s nominee a fair hearing and a fair vote. Senators who refuse to consider the President’s nominee are failing the American people. They are obstacles to progress and are not only snubbing the judge and the President, they’re shirking their sworn duty to ‘support and defend the Constitution’ and ‘faithfully discharge the duties’ of their offices. If employees don’t do their jobs, they get fired. Common Cause says unequivocally, Senate, Do Your Job!” [Common Cause Press Release, 3/16/16]

PFAW: “Garland has demonstrated a remarkable intellect and a deep commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. It’s unfathomable that Senate Republicans would refuse to give fair consideration to a nominee as qualified as Judge Garland.”

“People For the American Way today applauded the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. ‘Judge Garland is a brilliant choice, and President Obama deserves credit for moving this process forward despite the GOP’s threats of obstruction,’ said Marge Baker, Executive Vice President at People For the American Way. ‘Garland has demonstrated a remarkable intellect and a deep commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. It’s unfathomable that Senate Republicans would refuse to give fair consideration to a nominee as qualified as Judge Garland. The Constitution makes clear that the Senate has the responsibility to give fair hearings and a timely vote to whoever the president nominates to the Supreme Court. Republicans need to do their job and treat this nominee with the basic respect he deserves.’” [PFAW Press Release, 3/16/16]

Americans United for Change: “The President has done his job, it's time for Senate Republicans to stop playing politics and do theirs and give Judge Garland fair consideration for a seat on the Supreme Court.”

“President Obama today nominated Merrick Garland to the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by the death of Antonin Scalia.  Garland currently serves as the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.  Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change, one of the groups leading the external effort to persuade Republicans in the Senate to end their self-declared blockade of anyone nominated by President Obama, released the following statement.

“‘President Obama has met his constitutional responsibility and has put forward a nominee for the Supreme Court with impeccable credentials and qualifications.  The President has done his job, it's time for Senate Republicans to stop playing politics and do theirs and give Judge Garland fair consideration for a seat on the Supreme Court,’ said Woodhouse.

“‘The notion that Senate Republicans, many of whom walk around with the constitution in their pockets, would shirk their constitutional responsibility and ignore the will of the voters who reelected President Obama overwhelmingly in 2012 is an abomination that is at odds with the views of the vast majority of the American people.  Such a blockade of a qualified nominee like Judge Garland, who has received bipartisan support in the past, reeks of politics and in poll after poll has proved to be an untenable position for Senate Republicans politically. 

“Senator McConnell and Senate Republicans now have a chance to walk back from the brink and do their jobs - and we will use every resource at our disposal to convince them to do so.  In the end, if Senate Republicans maintain this unprecedented level of obstruction and refuse to do their jobs, we'll make sure those Republican Senators who are up for reelection this year are replaced with people who will.” [Americans United for Change Press Release, 3/16/16]

Center for American Progress: “Today, President Obama nominated a well-qualified candidate to serve as the next Supreme Court justice and bring the Court back to full strength as it weighs key issues facing Americans.”

“Center for American Progress President and CEO Neera Tanden released the following statement after President Barack Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the vacant Supreme Court seat:

“‘Today, President Obama nominated a well-qualified candidate to serve as the next Supreme Court justice and bring the Court back to full strength as it weighs key issues facing Americans. Merrick Garland has a strong history as chief judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit after being confirmed in 1997 by a bipartisan 76-23 vote, a more conventional confirmation process than promised by today’s obstruction. Before ever hearing the name of the nominee, Senate Republicans promised to refuse to even meet with the nominee, hold a hearing, or take a vote, vowing to obstruct the process instead. This obstruction is unprecedented and is allowing the broken, partisan politics of Congress to infect the Supreme Court, further eroding trust in government. Senators should do their job to ‘advise and consent’ and consider Judge Garland based on his qualifications, as we have always done throughout American history.’” [Center for American Progress, 3/16/16]