(AP/Huffington Post) -- Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court has brought immediate cheers from some Senate Democrats, while Republicans say she must answer questions about her background before they vote.
Democrats like Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Ben Cardin of Maryland say Kagan has "impressive" and "broad" legal credentials. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts called Kagan an "extraordinary trailblazer" and said "she will be an extraordinary Supreme Court Justice for a very long time."
In anticipation of GOP opposition, Sen. Leahy took the opportunity to take a shot at his conservative colleagues at a press conference on Monday.
"We have some Republicans who would automatically oppose anybody who was nominated," Leahy said. "The President could nominate Moses the Law Giver. In fact I told the President, I said you realize if you'd nominated Moses the Law Giver, somebody would raise, 'but he doesn't have a birth certificate! Where's his birth certificate!'"
Despite inevitable criticism from both sides of the aisle, Sen. Leahy appeared optimistic about Kagan's chances of becoming the next Justice of the Supreme Court.
"It would be hard to find people in this country who would stand out as a greater legal scholar than she does," Leahy said. "She will be confirmed."
Republicans said uniformly they will question Kagan about her lack of judicial experience and whether she will be a rubber stamp for President Barack Obama.
GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas says it is their duty to "give Ms. Kagan's record a full and fair review."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.