McConnell says Republicans would confirm a Supreme Court justice in 2020

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has reversed course on confirming a Supreme Court justice during a presidential election year, now that there's a Republican in the White House.

While speaking at the Paducah Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Kentucky on Tuesday, McConnell was asked what his position would be on filling a Supreme Court vacancy should a justice die in 2020. "Oh, we'd fill it," McConnell said with a smile, as the audience laughed.

He was singing a different tune in 2016, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. McConnell blocked President Barack Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, claiming that the "nomination ought to be made by the next president" because that way, voters would have a voice in the matter.

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McConnell's spokesman, David Popp, attempted to explain McConnell's thought process, telling CNN that the difference is in 2016, a Democrat was in the White House and the Senate was controlled by Republicans, but now, both are held by the GOP. Be that as it may, it still doesn't change the fact that 2020 is a presidential election year, just like 2016, which used to be McConnell's sticking point. RBG, keep taking your vitamins.