Sen. McConnell: Kagan needs to show she wouldn’t be Obama’s ‘rubber stamp’ on Supreme Court
By Jesse J. Holland, APWednesday, May 12, 2010
McConnell wants to know if Kagan a ‘rubber stamp’
WASHINGTON — The top Senate Republican says Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan must address concerns that she would serve as a “rubber stamp” for President Barack Obama’s policies.
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Kagan’s current job as solicitor general makes her part of the president’s team. And he says nothing in her record suggests she could switch perspectives to be an impartial justice.
McConnell said Wednesday that Kagan needs to show she would be independent as a justice.
McConnell’s remarks come at the start of a day of courtesy calls on Capitol Hill for Kagan. She began with Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said he wants to make her confirmation process “as smooth as possible.”
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan is meeting with top senators in both parties Wednesday as she begins courting the votes she’ll need to be confirmed.
Kagan is visiting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to kick off her first day of Capitol Hill ‘courtesy calls.’
Reid said as they went into their meeting that he looks forward to making the confirmation process “as smooth as possible.”
Kagan next will call on Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, as well as Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy. She’ll also sit down with the panel’s top Republican, Jeff Sessions, and three other top committee members.
Kagan is facing questions from Republicans about whether she would be able to refrain from being a rubber stamp on Obama’s policies as a justice.
