Nebraska Rep. [crscore]Jeff Fortenberry[/crscore], a friend of late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, said Monday the quick reaction to who should replace Scalia was “undignified” and “a sad commentary on the philosophical divide in the county.”
Appearing on CNN’s “At This Hour With Berman and Bolduan,” Fortenberry remembered Scalia for his “great adherence to the great American tradition of jurisprudence.” (RELATED: Presidential Candidates React To Death Of Antonin Scalia)
“I was shocked that within the hour [of Scalia’s death] from both sides, there was already politicking about the idea of who has the right to replace him,” CNN host John Berman said. “Do you think that was too fast for the politics to start even in this day and age?” (RELATED: FLASHBACK: In 2007, Schumer Called For Blocking All Bush Supreme Court Nominations)
“Yes. It was undignified,” Fortenberry replied. “It speaks to the dynamic of which we’re living, though, and it’s a sad commentary on the philosophical divide in the county. How we’ve over politicized everything, how the media picks up any hint of drama and runs with it on a 24-hour basis. We need to slow down.” (RELATED: Cruz Reacts To Death Of Antonin Scalia: ‘One Of The Greatest Justices In History’)
“When we lose a great American like this, there should be a time to mourn and remember, and for, again, those of us who had some personal insights into his character, to let us tell the rest of the nation about what an extraordinary person he really was,” Fortenberry said. (RELATED: Liberals Launch Racist Attacks On Clarence Thomas After Scalia’s Death)
“Hopefully that immediate reaction will give way to a time in which the nation really does step back and study this great American statesman,” Fortenberry suggested.
Noting a photo of himself and Scalia, Fortenberry said, “By the way, where we were hunting … that’s near a place called Chimney Rock, which is in western Nebraska. Chimney Rock was a marker whereby the first pioneers, the settlers who were going west, when they got there, they knew they were halfway across the country. And I was just thinking about this, maybe this in a certain way is symbolic of the justice.” (VIDEO: Cruz Will ‘Absolutely’ Filibuster Any Of Obama’s Nominees To Replace Scalia)
Scalia “had a great adherence to the great American tradition of jurisprudence. He understood our history. He was consistent in his application of intellectual rigor and case studies while also trying to move that forward in time and applying those principles to modern dilemmas and difficulties,” Fortenberry insisted. “So I offer that to you as a way of just my own reflections as to what a great man this was and an extraordinary contribution he made to America.”