Washington (CNN) - Two more Republican senators have announced they will oppose Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski both issued statements Friday afternoon indicating their opposition to Kagan's nomination. The announcements come hours after Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch indicated he would oppose Kagan's nomination.
McConnell said Kagan was "far from forthcoming in discussing her own views on basic principles of American constitutional law" during this week's confirmation hearings.
"I do not have confidence that if she were confirmed to a lifetime position on the Supreme Court she would suddenly constrain the ardent political advocacy that has marked much of her adult life," McConnell said. "The American people expect a justice who will impartially apply the law, not one who will be a rubberstamp for the Obama administration or any other administration. For these reasons, I will oppose Ms. Kagan's confirmation."
In announcing her opposition, Murkowski bemoaned the lack of geographic diversity and the small number of law schools represented on the court.
"Ms. Kagan, like this administration's last nominee, Justice Sotomayor, is a native of New York City. Although she spent a portion of her career in Chicago, most of her career has been spent 'inside the beltway' of Washington, D.C., and Cambridge, Massachusetts on the campus of Harvard University," Murkowski said. "If confirmed, six of the nine Supreme Court Justices will be from the Northeast United States, and only three law schools of the 199 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association will be represented on the high court-Harvard, Yale and Columbia law schools."
Murkowski did not support Kagan's nomination to her current post of solicitor general, and said Kagan is not qualified for the Supreme Court do to her lack of experience as either a judge or practicing lawyer.
"It is not essential that a Supreme Court nominee have experience as a judge but those who lacked that experience had substantial experience in the practice of law. Ms. Kagan has spent the bulk of her career as an academic, a university administrator and policy advisor. For the reasons I have cited here, I plan to oppose her nomination when it comes before the Senate," Murkowski said.
-CNN's Bill Mears contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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What a huge surprise – a Republican saying no to something put forth by Obama!!! This is news?
The Party of No says "no'. Why is this news?
No Really?
That can't be. Mitch McConnel is voting NO on an issue that would help the American people. Not the first time likely not the last. I am so sick of the party of NO. No scruples, no plan, no shame and (pray to God) no majority.
Kagen is in hands down and these idiots just can't handle the threat of more balance. If Kagan was far-right....would they be whining? Just like we had to deal with Roberts getting appointed, I say "eat it,
GOP'ers! Chalk it up to another loss for you and cry me a river.
what do you think the Gop party is a party of no.
Kagen is extremely qualified and will make the confirmation, no problem.
Intellectualism just scares the crap out of the GOP. People with a brain are easily influenced and that plays against their strongest strategy. Loving this!
Two more. That must bring the grand total of those against Kagan to ... two.
Wow CNN this is support to be news. We all no by know that the Party of HELL NO is never going to suppose President Obama on anything. So this is not new worthy. CNN=FOX NEWS!
Republicans saying "NO"? Say it isn't so. I'm stunned!
There's a surprise – munchkin look alike mcconnell and the other idiot bp lover woman from AK joining ranks.
Once again they oppose something the President wants. Does this surprise anyone anymore?
National security demands a two party Supreme Court and the appointment of Kagan guarantees its integrity. She will follow the needs of the Democratic Party and faithfully represent them. Constitutional law has always been open to political interpretation and is expressed by judges loyal to those that gave them the job. Only King Solomon had undivided loyalties, his judgments came directly from God.
Did anyone really expect anything else?
Kagan has forgotten more about the Constitution than the entire Republican Congressional caucus ever knew.
I expect Cornyn, Kyl et al to fall in lockstep behind their Fearless Leader, Chinless Mitch.
Kagan will make an excellent Supreme Court Justice, she won't vote to turn over the nation to corporate interests like McConnel would like.
The more wacko Reich-wing RepubliKlans like McConnel and Sessions dislike a candidate, the better that Candidate is for America.
Many wackos posting here, sounds like MatthewDetroit shares a bunk with Phoenix86, talking sweet psycho pillow talk they together.
Reality is clearly irrelevant when you're a republican running for re-election.
Just another topic for the Republicans to say no to. The real problem here is, Elana Kagen doesn't own stock in BP, Haliburton, or attend Republican backroom shenanigans. If she did, she would be the typical Republican nominee and could answer all questions by saying, "I don't recall" or "I don't remember" like corporate, special interest justice Alito did. At least with her as a justice there would be one less vote for corporate corruption and flat out greed in America by the 'good old boys' which put us right where we are today. Then again look who's voting against her. McConnel, Murkowski, Orrin Hatch? If it were me, not having their vote or any Republican vote for that matter,would make me proud.
There's that word again: Socialism.
Don't you idiots already know that socialism was bought into this country years ago, even before your Godlike King Bush. Highways, social security, the military, the laws of the nation. You people need to get a life and start supporting our country, whomever is leading and try to come up with some positive answers to the problems. Makes me just want to slap some of you.
The more these hard nosed republicans oppose her, the more certain I am that she might be the right one.
Don't expect more than 3-5 votes from the Republican't buckets of clown $hit. All they can do is say "no" to anything Obama proposes. No matter–on most issues they have sunk into irrelevance.
Jim in Idaho–You are giving Roberts far too much credit. In his hearings he lied that he would just be an umpire, calling the balls and strikes. On the bench, he has decided there should be only three bases, batters get 6 balls and only one strike, and you need to run the bases clockwise to score a run. Thomas is too dumb to lie, so his nonsensical opinions and dissents are just from ignorance, but Roberts continues to lie like a pro.
Mitch McConnel is an absolute Donkey.
Republicans as per usual are making themselves look like whiny little babies.
YOU LOST the election and you have a black president GET OVER IT!
The Republicans will oppose any one who can think! Im sure even if Jesus is appointed today they will still oppose him!!
There are so many tea baggers in this forum
She is just another SLobama loving socialistic Hitler like tax cheating non-american military hating moron like the wanna be president. She is hell bent on destrying America like SLObama is
"Far From Forthcoming" is the title of McConnells life, he is a rubber stamper of the highest degree. He would oppose God just because that is all Republicans can do is oppose everything that might move the country forward.
CNN, from reading these comments, it's obvious that your readers are grossly misinformed. This, for example, is pure hyperbolic crap:
"Kagan has made it clear, in what little written record she's left, that she's an advocate of a Big Government Nanny State to the extent that she's willing to ignore the Constitution to impose that on Americans."
Perhaps these sorts of articles could be accompanied by a cartoon using the most rudimentary iconography to explain in the simplest possible terms what actually is going on?