While speculating on who President Trump would nominate to Supreme Court, on Monday’s Good Morning America, ABC co-host Robin Roberts and correspondent Terry Moran engaged in a brief political strategy session to advise Democrats on the best way to obstruct any pick for the high court.
After Moran ran through the list of finalists for the nomination, Roberts declared: “And, Terry, as you know, Democrats will likely push back on anyone that the president nominates, so – or puts into consideration.” She then lamented that “it’s going to be a long haul for them, though” and “very difficult for them to stop it.”
Moran acknowledged: “It’s gonna be tough, Robin. You’re absolutely right....Democrats will have to hold on to all of their votes. That’s gonna be tough, they lost several when Gorsuch was nominated.” The headline on screen asked: “Can Democrats Do Anything to Block Nomination?”
However, the reporter then tried to offer hope to liberals:
So they’re targeting two Republican moderate women, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and the key issue there is abortion. More than two generations of American women and men have now lived with the constitutional right to abortion. If the battle’s on that ground, the Democrats might have a chance.
Roberts replied: “We’ll see, Terry.”
Earlier in the segment, Moran hyped the stakes: “It is the big day, President Trump’s pick, if confirmed, will likely change this court and our country for a generation on issues from abortion to environmental law, from affirmative action to the role of religion in public life, and so many others we can’t even imagine.”
That proclamation echoed his coverage on GMA the day after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, fretting that the “country is going to change profoundly.”
All three networks have promised viewers a “bare-knuckle,” “ugly,” and “epic” fight over whoever the president nominates to the Supreme Court.
Here is a full transcript of the July 9 report on GMA:
7:10 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: We’re gonna turn now to President Trump and his Supreme Court pick. Just hours from now, the president will announce his nominee in prime time. He says he’s now down to four candidates that you’re seeing there, tweeting in part, “An exceptional person will be chosen.” Terry Moran, who covers the Supreme Court for us, is there, has the very latest. Good morning, Terry.
TERRY MORAN: Good morning, Robin. It is the big day, President Trump’s pick, if confirmed, will likely change this court and our country for a generation on issues from abortion to environmental law, from affirmative action to the role of religion in public life, and so many others we can’t even imagine.
So the final four, all conservative federal appeals court judges. Brett Kavanaugh, he is 53 years old, a Washingtonian, he has long been considered the conservative superstar. He worked for Ken Starr on the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky investigation.
Amy Coney Barrett, she is the newbie among the group, 46 years old, she’s been on the court for less than a year, a favorite among social conservatives. She’s a professor of law – has been a professor of law at Notre Dame.
There is Raymond Kethledge, 51 years old, a Michigander. He’s a fishing buddy of Neil Gorsuch, and last year, when he was interviewed for the spot that Gorsuch got, he was asked, “If not you, who should the president nominate?” He said, “Nominate Neil Gorsuch.” So maybe it’s his turn now. And Thomas Hardiman, he is 53 years old. He is a judge in Pennsylvania. He has been a judge a long time, district and appeals court, and he has a strong advocate in the president’s sister, Judge Maryanne Trump Barry, who is his colleague in Pennsylvania. Robin?
ROBERTS: And, Terry, as you know, Democrats will likely push back on anyone that the president nominates, so – or puts into consideration. So it’s going to be a long haul for them, though. It’s going to be very difficult for them to stop it.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Trump to Announce Supreme Court Pick; Can Democrats Do Anything to Block Nomination?]
MORAN: It’s gonna be tough, Robin. You’re absolutely right. So Republicans have 51 senators, they’ve got the majority in the Senate. But with John McCain getting cancer treatment, they’re down to 50, and they need to hold on to those. Democrats will have to hold on to all of their votes. That’s gonna be tough, they lost several when Gorsuch was nominated. So they’re targeting two Republican moderate women, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and the key issue there is abortion. More than two generations of American women and men have now lived with the constitutional right to abortion. If the battle’s on that ground, the Democrats might have a chance. Robin?
ROBERTS: We’ll see, Terry. Thank you.
And George will have live coverage of the president’s announcement at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on ABC.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We’ll see if the president can keep the suspense going until then.
