eChristianity
Friday, March 5, 2021
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Christian Life
  • Ministry
  • Vatican News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Christian Life
  • Ministry
  • Vatican News
eChristianity
No Result
View All Result

Biden Now ‘Open’ to Court-Packing: ‘It Depends on How’ Senate Handles Barrett Nomination

January 1, 1970
in News
0
Biden Now ‘Open’ to Court-Packing: ‘It Depends on How’ Senate Handles Barrett Nomination
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Read More

Recommended Post

Women of different faiths find ‘seat at the table’ co-hosting ‘Sister Act’ podcast

On first day in Iraq, Pope Francis pays tribute to Christian martyrs

How Catholicism became a breeding ground for conspiracy theories

ChristianHeadlines.com



Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Thursday he is “open” to adding seats to the U.S. Supreme Court and will announce his position prior to Election Day.

Speaking at an ABC town hall in Philadelphia, Biden said his position will depend on how the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett is handled by the Senate, which is expected to vote on her confirmation prior to Election Day, Nov. 3.

The court has had nine seats since 1869.

“It depends on how much they rush this,” Biden said, asserting the Senate should be debating COVID-19 stimulus relief instead of taking up Barrett’s nomination.

Moderator George Stephanopoulos replied: “Right now it looks like they’re going to have a vote around Halloween. … If they vote on it before the election, you are open to expanding the court?”

“I’m open to considering what happens from that point on,” Biden said.

Stephanopoulos asked, “But don’t voters have a right to know where you stand?”

“They do have a right to know,” Biden said.

“So you’ll come out with a clear position before election day?” Stephanopoulos asked.

“Yes,” Biden replied. “Depending on how they handle this.”

Biden urged viewers: “Vote for a senator who in fact reflects your general view on constitutional interpretation, and vote for a president who thinks is more in line with you. … If you oppose my position, vote for Trump, vote for Republicans who shares that view.”

It’s the closest Biden has come this year to saying he supports adding seats to the U.S. Supreme Court, a position backed by many prominent Democrats. Barrett would replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Earlier in the conversation, Stephanopoulos noted that one year ago Biden had said, “I would not get into court packing. I would not pack the court.”

“That’s not what you’re saying now,” Stephanopoulos said. “Is the nomination of Judge Barrett reason enough to rethink your position?”

“If I had answered the question directly then all the focus would be on, ‘What’s Biden going to do if he wins?’ Instead of on, ‘Is it appropriate what is going on now?'” Biden said, referencing the potential confirmation of Barrett, days before the election. “I have not been a fan of court-packing because then it just generates what will happen.”

Biden implied a court-packing move by Democrats would spark a court-packing war: “Whoever wins, it just keeps moving in a way that is inconsistent with what is going to be manageable.”

“So you’re still not a fan?” Stephanopoulos asked.

“Well, I’m not a fan. It depends on how this turns out … how it’s handled,”

Biden asserted that the “Constitution implies that the way the people have a right to determine who’s going to be on the court is how they vote for their senators and their president.”

“The president is president for all four years, isn’t he?” moderator George Stephanopoulos asked.

“He is. But once an election begins, by implication, it is inconsistent with the constitutional principles, in my view. You get disagreement among scholars on this, but I believe it’s inconsistent, when millions of people have already voted, to put someone on the court. I think it should have been held until this election is over – see what the makeup of the senate is going to be. If the president wins this election, he should be able to go for it.”

Recent:

Amy Coney Barrett Defends Her Pro-Life Beliefs: It’s the ‘Position of the Catholic Church’

‘I Believe in the Power of Prayer’: Amy Coney Barrett Thanks Americans for Encouragement

Roe v. Wade Is Not a ‘Super Precedent’ That Can’t Be Overturned, Amy Coney Barrett Says

Photo courtesy: (C)Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/Staff


Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Next Post

7 observations on North Carolina’s anti-democratic, anti-Muslim, anti-women legislation

Related Posts

Women of different faiths find ‘seat at the table’ co-hosting ‘Sister Act’ podcast

Women of different faiths find ‘seat at the table’ co-hosting ‘Sister Act’ podcast

March 5, 2021
On first day in Iraq, Pope Francis pays tribute to Christian martyrs

On first day in Iraq, Pope Francis pays tribute to Christian martyrs

March 5, 2021
How Catholicism became a breeding ground for conspiracy theories

How Catholicism became a breeding ground for conspiracy theories

March 5, 2021
Muslim candidate for Manhattan DA runs to give victims of system a ‘seat at the table’

Muslim candidate for Manhattan DA runs to give victims of system a ‘seat at the table’

March 5, 2021
Thousands line up to honor late televangelist Frederick K.C. Price at his FaithDome

Thousands line up to honor late televangelist Frederick K.C. Price at his FaithDome

March 5, 2021
Pope arrives in Iraq to rally Christians despite pandemic

Pope arrives in Iraq to rally Christians despite pandemic

March 5, 2021
Next Post
7 observations on North Carolina’s anti-democratic, anti-Muslim, anti-women legislation

7 observations on North Carolina’s anti-democratic, anti-Muslim, anti-women legislation

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Top Stories

Women of different faiths find ‘seat at the table’ co-hosting ‘Sister Act’ podcast

Women of different faiths find ‘seat at the table’ co-hosting ‘Sister Act’ podcast

March 5, 2021
On first day in Iraq, Pope Francis pays tribute to Christian martyrs

On first day in Iraq, Pope Francis pays tribute to Christian martyrs

March 5, 2021
Dreams for the future: Pope meets with Scholas Occurentes youth

Dreams for the future: Pope meets with Scholas Occurentes youth

March 5, 2021
eChristianity

© 2020 eChristianity News

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Christian Life
  • Ministry
  • Vatican News

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Christian Life
  • Ministry
  • Vatican News

© 2020 eChristianity News