As soon as the news broke of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at age 87, a number of right-wing media voices urged the rapid confirmation of a new justice — while the presidential election is less than seven weeks away.
A few acknowledged the contrast with 2016, when Senate Republicans refused to confirm any nominee from President Barack Obama to fill the seat opened up by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, but the commentators nevertheless insisted that Republicans should push ahead now.
Appearing on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight, guest Ned Ryun of the right-wing group American Majority recommended Judge Amy Coney Barrett as the potential replacement. “And I think they will move, and I hope they do move, Tucker, before the election. With Trump and McConnell together, and obviously the majority in the Senate, this is an opportunity, and I say they seize the moment.”
When Carlson asked how this situation would compare with what happened to Obama’s nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, and what Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) did in 2016, Ryun answered: “But that has typically been when there are different parties in control of the White House and the Senate. That’s not the case here, obviously — we have the White House and the Senate both controlled by Republicans. Let's go for it.”