Friday, February 25, 2022

Lindsey Graham Was For Ketanji Brown Jackson Before He Was Against Her

Upon learning that President Biden had chosen D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, South Carolina GOP Senator Lindsey Graham quipped, "The radical left has won President Biden over yet again."

Well, it would seem that the radical left won over Graham less than a year ago when he voted to confirm Jackson to the D.C. Circuit. Graham was one of three Republican Senators who voted in Jackson's favor along with Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. 

Now some of Graham's pique is because Biden didn't select U.S. District Court Judge Michelle Childs who is from the Palmetto state. Childs also had the support of South Carolina GOP Senator Tim Scott and longtime S.C. Congressman and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.

Still, Graham bemoaning Jackson's appointment at best sounds like sour grapes and at worst comes off as lacking credibility given his willingness to support her for the D.C. Court of Appeals less than nine months ago. Keep in mind, this is the same Lindsey Graham who said he was done with defeated former President Trump after the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol only to declare the GOP couldn't grow without him exactly four months later.

Yet I suspect Graham's words might be the kindest Jackson receives from any Republican Senator during the confirmation process with the possible exceptions of Collins and Murkowski. But I would not be shocked if they too became wobbly where it concerns Jackson. Barring any Democratic defections, Jackson will be confirmed to the Court. Unfortunately, it will be yet another opportunity for the Republicans to put their Trumpian ugliness on public display. 

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