Political battle brews over replacing Scalia, as high court decides on immigration, other key issues

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Fox News:

The unexpected death of Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia is sparking a political battle in Washington and on presidential campaign trails across the country -- as Democrats and Republicans argue about replacing Scalia while the high court decides on such politically-charged issues as ObamaCare, immigration and abortion.

 

At issue is whether President Obama, in his final months of office, will attempt to appoint a replacement for Scalia, with the court now split between four Democratic and Republican appointees.

 

The president said just hours after Scalia’s death was made public Saturday that he would fulfill his constitutional obligation by submitting an appointment “in due time.”

 

His announcement seemed to tamp down the passionate election-year debate about replacing Scalia and whether Obama would try to make an appointment while Congress is in recess.

 

But the calm lasted for only a matter of minutes as the GOP presidential candidates at a debate in South Carolina appeared to argue the next president should make the appointment.

 

“We are one justice away from a Supreme Court that would undermine the religious liberty of millions of Americans,” said Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. “The Senate needs to stand strong and say, ‘We're not going to give up the U.S. Supreme Court for a generation by allowing Barack Obama to make one more liberal appointee.’ ”

 

On Sunday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump suggested on Fox News that Judge Diane Sykes, in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, in Milwaukee, would be a “very good alternative.”

 

Trump also is urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to not allow the appointment process to proceed until the country has a new president.

 

He said during the debate that it's up to Congress to "delay, delay, delay."

 

McConnell, R-Ky., says the American people should have a voice in the selection of the next justice and that the appointment should not be filled until there is a new president.

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Appointment on hold.