Obama: I Will Nominate Scalia Successor, Expect ‘Fair Hearing’ From GOP Senate

President Obama spoke briefly tonight on the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, while making it clear he is going to act quickly to nominate a successor.

Much of the Republican response to Scalia’s death has been that the next president should be the one to appoint a successor. Hillary Clinton already put out a statement scolding them for those remarks.

President Obama said tonight, “I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor in due time. There will be plenty of time for me to do so and for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give them a fair hearing and a timely vote.”

He said this issue is “bigger than any one party” and insisted that it’s important to keep the Supreme Court functioning “as the beacon of justice that our Founders envisioned.”

Watch above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

— —

Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!