Sen. McCaskill to vote ‘no’ on Gorsuch, Missouri GOP reacts

On Friday, Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill announced she plans to vote against President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

McCaskill said while she was not comfortable with either choice, she was concerned over the country’s polarizing politics.

“I’m certain we will have a Senate rule change that will usher in more extreme judges in the future,” said McCaskill.

The senator pointed to Gorsuch’s court record for why she would vote ‘no.’

“Whether it is a freezing truck driver or an autistic child, he has shown a stunning lack of humanity. And he has been an activist – for example, writing a dissent on a case that had been settled, in what appears to be an attempt to audition for his current nomination.”

McCaskill went on to voice her concerns that Gorsuch would take an activist approach where corporations have the same rights as people.

“(President) Donald Trump promised Missourians that he would look out for the little guy, for working people, for the forgotten,” said McCaskill. “He promised he would drain the swamp of the special interests, the lobbyists, and politicians who have overlooked the working people in this country. This judicial nomination breaks those promises.

The President who promised working people he would lift them up has nominated a judge who can’t even see them.”

Missouri’s Republican Party fired back, stating McCaskill was initially expected to support Gorsuch, but only because she feared his replacement would be someone more conservative than him.

“Just days ago, McCaskill was caught on tape saying that she was ‘uncomfortable’ with the filibuster strategy that she now plans to join,” said Austin Stukins, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “When McCaskill loses her re-election bid next year, it will be because she continues to put the interests of the Democrats’ Washington D.C. party bosses ahead of Missourians.”

Missouri Democratic Party Chair Stephen Webber stood by McCaskill, saying, “…Anybody who wants to launch partisan attacks for her standing against a judge who’s used his courtroom to let the rich and powerful step all over working people, should have to answer for why they’re refusing to stand with working Missourians.”

The vote to confirm Gorsuch is set to take place April 7.