On Tuesday's New Day show, CNN host John Berman trotted out the Democratic talking points in an interview with Maine Senator Angus King, an "independent" who caucuses with the Democrats (lifetime American Conservative Union score: 6 percent.)
Berman knocked the idea that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would keep confirming federal judges, including Justin Walker for the D.C. Court of Appeals (hearings start today.) The CNN host gave no pushback when Senator King derided Walker as "that unqualified judge," and complained that it was "ridiculous" that they were returning to D.C. in part to confirm him.
Berman began by quoting complaints by Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin:
JOHN BERMAN: We'll get to China in just a minute, but I'd like to start with the fact that you're there. You're in Washington, the Senate is in session, and not everyone is particularly happy about that. Dick Durbin, the number two Democrat in the Senate, said, quote, "I don't think we should have come back. Coming back for Mitch McConnell's former intern to get a promotion to the highest court in the land does not fit the description of a national emergency." He's talking about the fact that you're there for confirmation hearings for Justice Justin Walker for the D.C. Court of Appeals. How do you feel about this?
This silly Durbin slam could be applied to Berman, demeaning him for once being a "junior office worker at ABC News." Walker is a graduate of Harvard Law School and clerked for Brett Kavanaugh on the D.C. Circuit Court and for Anthony Kennedy at the Supreme Court.
Like a good Democrat, Senator King complained about having to work on confirming Judge Walker instead of more pressing business:
SENATOR ANGUS KING (I-Maine): Well, I feel the same way. I don't mind coming back. I came down yesterday, and I'm glad to be here. But when people in Maine were talking to me, they said, "Now, when you go back, let's work on unemployment, let's work on aid to the farmers, let's work on the PPP [Paycheck Protection Program] or help for the lobster men." Nobody said, "Angus, we want you to go down there and confirm that unqualified judge to a lifetime appointment." I mean, it's ridiculous.
The American Bar Association (ABA) has ruled that Walker is "unqualified," but Republicans have insisted that no one should see them as a neutral arbiter -- just like CNN.
After not challenging his guest's liberal commentary, Berman followed up by asking Senator King if he agrees with President Trump's claim that the COVID-19 pandemic occurred as a result of the activities of a lab in Wuhan, China, leading Senator King to disagree with that analysis, and to demand on seeing more recent intelligence on the issue.
