Should a black woman fill Supreme Court vacancy? What Al Sharpton says.
| Washington
The Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights leader known for access to the Obama White House, on Thursday carefully avoided mentioning black women jurists who could be nominated to fill the US Supreme Court vacancy 鈥� but was quick to cite Vice President Joe Biden as someone Democrats could turn to if Hillary Clinton were indicted.
Some black civil rights groups and activists are pressuring President Obama to name a black woman to the high court following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Tuesday. No black woman has ever sat on that court.
When asked about the subject at a Monitor-hosted breakfast for reporters Thursday, Mr. Sharpton did not single out potential nominees. He said he did not want to give Republicans 鈥渁n easy foil by using us to disrespect the presidency ... by saying they are not going to entertain someone nominated by me or by other civil rights leaders.鈥�
Sharpton, as 鈥渢he White House鈥檚 civil rights leader of choice,鈥� stressed that the president鈥檚 decision on the matter would be 鈥渁 central concern鈥� of the National Action Network that he heads and for minority voters generally.
鈥淢any of the things that we have fought for in the last half a century 鈥� around affirmative action, around voting rights, around immigration rights, around women鈥檚 right to choose 鈥� are either on this [court鈥檚] calendar or can find their way鈥� to the court, he said. 鈥淲hoever sits on the court could really determine where this court is going the next half century or more.鈥�
At the breakfast, a reporter asked Sharpton what the Democratic Party would do if Mrs. Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, were indicted as a result of ongoing investigations into how she handled State Department e-mails. Sharpton first stressed, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think she is鈥� going to be indicted, noting the former secretary of State鈥檚 strong denial of the possibility in Wednesday night鈥檚 Democratic debate with Sen. Bernie Sanders.
鈥淚n case she is wrong,鈥� Sharpton said, Democrats 鈥渨ould have to have someone who could unify the party quickly.鈥� He added, 鈥淛ust shooting from the hip, I think there is a very fresh face around the corner 鈥� Joe Biden. Is that fresh enough for you?鈥�
When pressed for other possibilities who could step in, Sharpton mentioned Secretary of State John Kerry, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, and South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn.
Then he said, 鈥淚 think that a candidacy by [Massachusetts Sen.] Elizabeth Warren would be electrifying.鈥�
