BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Local politicians are reacting Tuesday morning in opposition to President Donald Trump's selection of conservative judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.
Trump Picks Kavanaugh For Court, Setting Up Fight With Dems
President Donald Trump chose Brett Kavanaugh, a politically connected conservative judge, for the Supreme Court Monday, setting up a ferocious confirmation battle with Democrats as he seeks to shift the nation's highest court further to the right.
Sen. Ed Markey wasted no time weighing in on the President's choice of Kavanaugh, saying the judge could be the deciding vote on a number of issues important to Americans--including one big issue that has resonated across the country for years.
"I think that the President has nominated someone who has the potential to overturn Roe v. Wade," Markey said. He's concerned Kavanaugh could turn several precedents upside down--"Precedents in labor law, in environmental law, in civil rights law. Could change the direction of our country. I do not believe he is someone who should serve on the Supreme Court of our country."
Markey said he is voting no on Kavanaugh's confirmation, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren is right there with him. She tweeted out her concern as well that the judge could help overturn the Supreme Court's landmark abortion decision.
Speaking to a crowd of SCOTUS protesters in Washington D.C. Monday night, Warren said that conservatives know Kavanaugh would overturn Roe v. Wade.
"We are in the fight of our lives," Warren said. "Kavanaugh has been sitting on a pre-approved list of right-wing nominees for eight months now. I have reviewed his record, and let me tell you, Brett Kavanaugh did not end up on this list because he is the consensus nominee."
Rep. Joe Kennedy III urged the senate to reject Kavanaugh.
Rep. Jim McGovern noted in a tweet thread that Kavanaugh believes the president shouldn't be "distracted" by the lawsuits against former members of his campaign and administration, but that several of those cases--his former campaign manager Paul Manafort being indicted for conspiracy against the United States, his former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators, and more--could come before the Supreme Court.
"Let that sink in," McGovern wrote.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Rep. Michael Capuano said the Kavanaugh pick "troubles me greatly."
Rep. Katherine Clark tweeted, "We must stand up & insist that our next #SCOTUS Justice defends our freedoms, not erode them. #WhatsAtStake"
In a series of tweets, Mass. Attorney General Maura Healey said senators concerned about the future for women and families in America should vote against Kavanaugh's nomination.
"Judge Kavanaugh would be the deciding vote to overturn Roe v. Wade," she wrote. "He would be the deciding vote to allow insurance companies to deny health care to children with preexisting conditions. He opposes common sense gun reforms. The extremity of his views and his opinions should be a warning to the members of the Senate who will now consider his nomination."
Responding to a breaking New York Times tweet about Kavanaugh's selection, Rep. Seth Moulton simply wrote, "Don’t despair. Vote."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens (@carlwbz) reports