Joe Biden addressed the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the hypocrisy behind Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell’s decision to try to fast track a nominee through the confirmation process. The New York Times reports:

In a speech delivered at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Mr. Biden, a former vice president and the current Democratic presidential nominee, appealed directly to the “handful” of pivotal Senate Republicans “who really will decide what happens” to “follow your conscience,” wading head-on into a matter that many political observers believe has the power to define the final weeks of the presidential race.

Biden remarked, “To jam this nomination through the Senate is just an exercise in raw political power and I don’t believe the people of this nation will stand for it.”

Biden tied the selection of the next justice to healthcare and the survival of the Affordable Care Act.  The Biden campaign feels pre-existing conditions will be on the chopping block with another conservative justice. CNN writes:

“Biden campaign officials say the former vice president plans to make defending the Affordable Care Act and its sweeping protections for pre-existing conditions a key focus, with an aide saying they view the President’s efforts to dismantle Obamacare as a motivating issue for voters.
“Make no mistake: the fight to preserve protections for pre-existing conditions is on the ballot,” a Biden campaign aide said.”

 

Biden also addressed the call from Republicans for his list of potential Supreme Court justices. The Democratic presidential candidate says he doesn’t want to release his list because it will subject the people to “unrelenting political attacks.” However, he did renew his commitment to appoint a Black woman. This is a promise he made during the primary season as well.

Watch his full comments above.