Depends on What Your Definition of ‘Advice and Consent’ Is

Todd Thurman / June 04, 2009

There are some who believe that the president, having won the election, should have complete authority to appoint his nominee and the Senate should only examine whether the justice is intellectually capable and an all-around good guy; that once you get beyond intellect and personal character, there should be no further question as to whether the judge should be confirmed. I disagree with this view

– Then-Senator Barack Obama in 2006

This was said by Harry Reid in 2009

I understand that during her career, she’s written hundreds and hundreds of opinions. I haven’t read a single one of them, and if I’m fortunate before we end this, I won’t have to read one of them

What’s changed?
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