Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is opening up about why he opposes the president’s Supreme Court nominee — Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Schumer says he doesn’t oppose Barrett because he believes she is unqualified to serve on the court. Rather he opposes her because of her positions on several issues.
He told ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday that other Supreme Court justices who share a similar ideology as Barrett have expressed their opposition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), supported pushes to limit labor unions, and restricted regulations aimed at combatting climate change.
“Her views on the issues, not her personal characteristics which no one disputes, she’s so far away from the American people. And it’s a lifetime appointment. It could set America back for a generation,” Schumer said.
Watch the video below:
.@SenSchumer says Pres. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett “could set America back for a generation”: “She’s so far away from the American people.” https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/DVO8ME38Mi
— The View (@TheView) September 29, 2020
Schumer was also pressed on his declaration that he would not meet with Barrett during her confirmation process. He explained why he had decided not to meet with her, “Her views are so pronounced that I don’t think meeting with her would change anything. And the process was so illegitimate that I don’t want to validate it.”
Additionally, he noted that Senate Democrats have an “uphill fight” to block Barrett’s confirmation. And he said Democrats plan to focus their opposition on “how her views affect people.”
"Her views are so pronounced that I don’t think meeting with her would change anything,” @SenSchumer says of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. “The number one issue here is how her views affect people… That’s how we’re going to try to win this fight.” https://t.co/f8u2wbJuik pic.twitter.com/uT0vYM2zf3
— The View (@TheView) September 29, 2020
On Sunday, speaking to reporters, Schumer announced that he would not meet with Barrett, as IJR reported.
“I believe first, that the whole process has been illegitimate,” he said, adding, “And second, because she’s already stated that she is for overturning the (Affordable Care Act). I will not meet with her.”
