Biden should think about what America wants.
A recent poll shows President Joe Biden’s pledge to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court could be more divisive than even detractors speculated.
A poll by ABC News-Ipsos showed that 76% of Americans want Biden to consider all candidates for the Supreme Court role, following the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
The poll results follow an announcement made by Biden last Thursday, where he confirmed that he would be fulfilling a campaign pledge by nominating a Black woman candidate before the end of February.
It’s not just Republicans who are adamant all candidates are considered irrespective of race and gender, but 54% of Democrats supported considering all potential candidates.
The poll also showed only 23% support Biden’s move to restrict the process to one group.
The poll, conducted between January 28th and January 29th, included a sample of 510 adults. Of this group, 43% held the view that the Supreme Court is partisan, with justices ruling based on “their partisan political views.”
Yet, the poll also showed the deep-seated unfavorable view of the President a few days after he launched his second year in office. 69% of participants disapproved of the President, and on the topic of the economy, only 1% said they viewed the economy as “excellent.”
Although Biden’s decision has the potential to further damage his reputation among some constituents, the pledge to nominate the first Black woman onto the high court bench was the saving grace in a faltering Democratic primary campaign.
It’s reported Biden told Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) he would make a public promise to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court in exchange for Clyburn’s endorsement. It worked, and Biden won in South Carolina.
Now, the President has to make good on the promise, despite receiving harsh criticism that he is allowing identity politics to enter the Supreme Court, with Dr. Ben Carson, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, telling WMAL that creating “that kind of situation in the highest court in the land is really abominable, and very detrimental to our freedoms.”
