Rick Santorum blasts Trump for 'bowing down to Washington elite' with Kavanaugh pick
Unlike the liberal politicians out there, most conservatives seem pretty happy with President Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. "Most" being the key word. A handful of conservatives aren't exactly thrilled with who Trump picked last night — namely, Rick Santorum.
Right after Trump's announcement, the former Pennsylvania senator and presidential contender stepped up to tear Kavanaugh down. "Donald Trump said he was going to energize the base with this pick. I don't think he did that," Santorum declared to CNN's Chris Cuomo, adding that "it just seems like Trump bowed to the elite in Washington." Kavanaugh is a judge on the federal court of appeals for Washington, D.C.
Santorum would've preferred his friend Thomas Hardiman — someone "who's not just a white-shoe lawyer guy," he told The Washington Post. And he isn't alone among Republicans in his criticism: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul reportedly told the White House that he was concerned about Kavanaugh's past rulings on health care, per the Post. Paul could potentially swing to join many Senate Democrats in opposing Kavanaugh's nomination, but he tweeted Monday night that he'd keep an "open mind" when deciding whether to approve the judge.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Meanwhile, David French, a senior fellow at the conservative National Review Institute, broadcast the voice of social conservatives in a Post op-ed. He said Trump should've selected instead Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who was seen as a stronger social conservative. In a separate Post column, radio host Hugh Hewitt defended Kavanaugh — but didn't quite endorse him, writing, "There is not much political upside to Kavanaugh's nomination, but there is enormous political downside if the Senate does not confirm him."
Instead of getting a "Gorsuch 2.0," as Hewitt described potential nominee Raymond Kethledge, America is getting more of a cool, calculated "John Roberts 2.0," he wrote. Read more about conservatives' concerns at The Washington Post.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 22, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - frozen assets, blazing fires, and more
By The Week US Published
-
How much of a blow is ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu?
Today's Big Question Action by Hague court damages Israel's narrative that Gaza conflict is a war between 'good and evil'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
UK gynaecological care crisis: why thousands of women are left in pain
The Explainer Waiting times have tripled over the past decade thanks to lack of prioritisation or funding for women's health
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published