The Great Illusion of Susan Collins – The Washington Post



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With the Supreme Court Retreat Anthony M. Kennedy last week, the scene is set, for the first time, to five voices for overthrowing the historical ] Roe v Wade abortion decision. Everyone after the appointment knows it. Everyone, apparently, with the exception of an American Senator: Susan Collins

On CNN's "State of the Union" and "This Week" from ABC, the Maine's Republican has shown a remarkable naivety about the future of the court. After showing the pro-choice Collins a clip of President Trump saying that abortion would be a "litmus test" for his candidates, CNN's Jake Tapper asked, "Is it fair to expect this? that any candidate that he selects will overthrow Roe v Wade ? "Collins replied," Well, the president told me in our meeting that he would not ask this And that's what he said most recently, on the advice of his lawyer. "The senator repeated this feeling on ABC, adding," What I want to see is a candidate who , regardless of his personal point of view on the very difficult and contentious life issue, will respect the precedent independently. "

None of this passes the test of laughter. "Respect precedent"? Last week, five judges overturned four decades of labor law jurisprudence. Collins voted for three of them. And as for the president's word, Collins surely knows that Trump's word is worth almost zero, especially when lawyers are involved. (Also, the last time other Republicans promised Collins something – to get his vote for the tax bill – they did not delay their deal.)

The answer the Perhaps more breathtaking is Tapper's. "Do not you think, just like an academic question, Neil Gorsuch, who did you vote for, do not you think he'll probably vote to overthrow Roe v. Wade if it is gives it the opportunity?

"Actually, I do not do it," Collins answered. "I had a very long talk with Judge Gorsuch in my office, and he m? commented that he was co-author of a book on precedents. "Again, Collins said this less than a week after Gorsuch's previous vote of several decades. she's convinced that she cares first of all about the precedent.

Collins is in her fourth term as a senator, she knows how Washington works, and she knows for sure that the Republican base will not tolerate not a candidate who would not vote to overthrow Roe As with Gorsuch, the search for Trump's next candidate is headed by Leonard Leo of the conservative Federalist Society. Whoever will come out will be less in the mold of Kennedy and more in the mold of Antonin Scalia.

So, when Collins claims, "I would not support a candidate who demonstrated hostility toward Roe v. Wade " Democrats can hope that is the case. Indeed, if Republicans can choose some Red Democrats for reelection, Collins may be free to vote against the candidate. But if it boils down to a vote, Collins' words Sunday make it clear that she'll be able to convince herself to support Trump's candidate.

Read more:

Jennifer Collins: Senator Collins, everyone will reverse Roe v. Wade

Colbert I. King: Decades of progress are in jeopardy

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