Johnson lauds Kavanaugh while Baldwin expresses reservations

Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin are now deep into the politics of picking America’s next Supreme Court justice.

In a Tuesday conference call with reporters, Johnson, a Republican, lauded court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and said the confirmation process should be wrapped up before November’s midterm elections.

Johnson said Kavanaugh’s adherence to interpreting the text of the law “describes the thought process of someone who will be a judge, not a super legislator, not an activist jurist. But a judge who is modest in what his or her role is. It literally is to interpret the law, not apply it or alter it.”

Meanwhile, in a brief statement issued Monday night, Baldwin, a Democrat, said: “People need an independent justice who will not overturn the law of the land on women’s health, health care for people with preexisting conditions, and the constitutional rights and freedoms of all Americans.”

“The stakes are very high for the American people and these are the things that I will be looking for as I review the nomination,” she added.

President Donald Trump’s pick to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy is viewed as among the more pivotal in American history. Kavanaugh could cement the court’s conservative direction for a generation.

Whatever the outcome of the nomination, the issue will likely flare during the midterm elections.

In some ways, there are similarities to what occurred in 2016, when Republicans refused to consider President Barack Obama’s pick to the court, Merrick Garland. Johnson, then up for reelection, had to face questions about joining the GOP blockade.

Once Trump was elected, Neil Gorsuch was nominated to replace the late Antonin Scalia, and Republicans pushed through confirmation in the U.S. Senate.

This time, it’s Baldwin who is up for re-election and her potential GOP rivals, Kevin Nicholson and Leah Vukmir, wasted little time in ramping up the pressure against her.

“Now more than ever, conservatives see the importance of having senators in Washington who will support President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. Tammy Baldwin’s guaranteed obstruction of this nominee once again shows Wisconsin voters that she needs to go,” Nicholson said in a statement.

Vukmir tweeted that “Judge Brett Kavanaugh has the track record to become a strong constitutionalist justice.”

Tuesday, in another tweet, Vukmir responded to news that Baldwin would not be speaking with reporters. She asked if Baldwin was “consulting with her San Francisco donors ... or just hiding ...”

Johnson urged Baldwin to “take a look at Judge Kavanaugh’s record.” He added, “I’m appreciative that Senator Baldwin hasn’t made a snap decision like so many of her colleagues.”

Johnson said he’ll keep an “open mind” on the nomination.

“I want to take a look at his record, as well,” he said. “I want to meet with him and discuss exactly his approach to the law. But early indications are, from my standpoint, very favorable.”