Four Democrats in Senate primary discuss Supreme Court vacancy
HERSHEY, Pa. - With a fight over the Supreme Court vacancy dominating debate in the U.S. Senate, four Pennsylvania Democrats running to join the chamber laid out their visions of what they want to see in a new justice Friday night.
HERSHEY, Pa. - With a fight over the Supreme Court vacancy dominating debate in the U.S. Senate, four Pennsylvania Democrats running to join the chamber laid out their visions of what they want to see in a new justice Friday night.
Their answers at a forum before the party faithful touched on respect for abortion rights, limiting money in politics, supporting same-sex marriage, and, for one, endorsing gun rights.
The quartet are running to take on Republican Sen. Pat Toomey in November in a contest that could help reshape the Senate.
Whoever wins could face a decision on a high court nominee early next year, because the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia is likely to linger until after the election. Republicans, including Toomey, have vowed not to consider anyone President Obama nominates.
Joe Sestak, a former Navy admiral and congressman from Delaware County, said he would ask a nominee about abortion.
"Do you understand that you actually represent the character of America? How do you believe on the issue of choice, that is now the law of the land, and will you abide by it?" he asked.
For diversity, he said, he would like to see a new justice with a background other than Harvard or Yale Law.
Katie McGinty, Gov. Wolf's former chief of staff, used the question to criticize Toomey and Republicans' for "deep obstructionism."
"We need to insist that our senator, Pat Toomey, get to work - go to Washington and do your constitutionally mandated job," she said.
She added that she would want a nominee who respects environmental rules, collective bargaining, and "the right to marry the person we love."
Toomey's campaign responded that he is following "the Biden rule" - which Republicans say Vice President Biden established as a senator - of not considering nominees in a presidential election year.
"It is only fair to let the American people have a say with their vote in November," said a Toomey spokesman. "In contrast, McGinty and Sestak made it clear that partisan political issues would be their only considerations."
Democrats say the GOP has twisted Biden's words about a nomination that never happened.
Braddock Mayor John Fetterman said that unlike many candidates, he is proud to embrace a "litmus test" for court nominees. He pointed to the court decision that opened the door to massive political spending by independent organizations.
"The first such litmus test would be: Would you vote to repeal Citizens United if given the chance? We have to remove the toxic influence of unlimited spending from our political system," he said to applause.
His second test would be protecting "a woman's right to choose."
Pittsburgh manufacturer Joseph Vodvarka, a late entry to the race, who said his main goal in running is to reimpose a tariff law passed in 1789, told the Democratic forum that he would seek a nominee who would uphold Second Amendment rights.
"Without that, we have no Constitution," he said.
The Democrats, as they have throughout the campaign, largely agreed on most policy areas. Their primary is April 26.
jtamari@phillynews.com @JonathanTamari