Two parties offer duelling views of Barrett as confirmation fight begins

U.S. Republicans and Democrats offered sharply divergent arguments Monday in a Supreme Court confirmation fight whose outcome will probably steer the court to the right for years, vying to define Judge Amy Coney Barrett and frame the political stakes of President Donald Trump’s rush to install her before he faces voters.

In a marathon day of opening statements, Democrats assailed Barrett as a conservative ideologue who would overturn the Affordable Care Act and abortion rights, and whose nomination amounted to an illegitimate power grab by a president in the last days before the election.

Republicans steered clear of addressing Barrett’s anticipated effect on the court, instead promoting her sterling qualifications and accusing Democrats of unjustly attacking her because of her Catholic faith.

Barrett, 48, a former Notre Dame law professor, appeals court judge and mother of seven, sat in silence for much of the day. When it was her turn to speak, she tried to avoid being pulled into the political or policy fray.

“Courts are not designed to solve every problem or right every wrong in our public life,” Barrett said. “The policy decisions and value judgments of government must be made by the political branches elected by and accountable to the people. The public should not expect courts to do so, and courts should not try.”

Republicans were so confident that they announced they would expedite an already accelerated undertaking by starting the process of voting in the judiciary committee on Thursday morning, before the final day of confirmation hearings wraps up.

“The truth is, America, that this judicial nominee has made her view so clear, and this president is trying to put herself in a position of power to make decisions about your lives,” said Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar.