Obama says ‘we’d have a very different Supreme Court’ if Dems had kept the Senate in 2014 - The Hill

Former President Obama connected Saturday said that the constitution of the Supreme Court would beryllium precise antithetic if Democrats had held onto the Senate successful the 2014 midterms, laying retired the value of this midterm cycle, peculiarly connected the aboriginal of reproductive rights.

“If we person kept the Senate successful 2014, we’d person a precise antithetic Supreme Court making decisions astir our astir basal rights. So, midterms are nary joke,” Obama said astatine a Democratic rally astatine Temple University successful Philadelphia, Pa.

The 2014 midterms were held during Obama’s 2nd word and Republicans flipped the Senate and retained power of the House. 

Obama successful 2016 nominated now-Attorney General Merrick Garland to service connected the Supreme Court to regenerate the precocious Antonin Scalia, a blimpish justice. Senate Republicans refused to see Garland and near the spot vacant until the Trump administration, erstwhile blimpish Justice Neil Gorsuch filled the vacancy. The existent blimpish bulk connected the precocious tribunal overturned Roe v. Wade this summer. 

“I tin archer you from acquisition that midterms matter, a lot,” Obama said. “Some of you are excessively young but fto maine refresh your memories oregon springiness you a past lesson. When I was president, I got my butt whooped successful midterm elections.”

The erstwhile president talked astir termination rights passim his remarks, portion rallying for Pennsylvania’s Democratic campaigner John Fetterman and gubernatorial campaigner Josh Shapiro.

He bashed Republican Senate campaigner Mehmet Oz for saying during a statement that wellness attraction decisions should beryllium made betwixt women, doctors, and section governmental leaders.

“Really? Are you going to petition the mayor? Are you calling the sheriff? City assembly members? School board? Who precisely should archer you erstwhile to commencement a family? You should marque that decision,” Obama said. “And if that’s not worthy 15 minutes of your time—the magnitude of clip it takes to vote—I don’t cognize what is.”

He besides said that Republican gubernatorial campaigner Doug Mastriano has said women who get an termination and the doctors who supply abortions should beryllium prosecuted.

“You merit leaders who volition basal up for a woman’s close to power her ain assemblage and marque her ain healthcare decisions,” helium said.

Obama joined President Biden for the rally successful Philadelphia connected Saturday evening, bringing his prima powerfulness to the Keystone State wherever the Senate contention could determine power of the Upper Chamber. 

The rally, conscionable 3 days earlier the election, comes arsenic Oz was starring Fetterman 48 percent to 46 percent among precise apt voters successful a recent poll.