An advertisement released Wednesday by a conservative legal group refutes President Obama’s claim that Merrick Garland would be a "moderate" Supreme Court Justice, arguing instead that Garland would only push the Supreme Court further to the left.
"Meet Merrick Garland," a female voice says at the open of the 60-second ad, released by Judicial Crisis Network. "Obama and his liberal allies have been working hard to paint Garland as a moderate for the Supreme Court, but there’s no painting over the truth."
The ad goes on to claim that Garland, far from being a moderate appointee, would support Obama’s agenda on guns, abortion, and government agencies.
"Garland would be the tie-breaking vote for Obama’s big government liberalism. The second amendment right to keep and bear arms? Gutted. Partial birth abortion? Legalized. Unaccountable agencies like the EPA? Unleashed," the ad says, using an acronym for the Environmental Protection Agency.
The commercial then references Garland’s record of hostility toward gun rights and government agencies using quotes from America's First Freedom Magazine and SCOTUS Blog.
"In two separate cases, Garland has demonstrated his "strong hostility to gun owner rights." He even sided with the federal government on keeping personal information on anyone who purchases a gun. Unaccountable agencies like the EPA "in a dozen close cases in which the court divided, he sided with the agency every time," the ad says.
It closes with a quote from a recent New York Times article that underscores the crucial role Garland would play in tilting the court to the left.
"According to The New York Times ‘if Judge Garland is confirmed, he could tip the ideological balance to create the most liberal Supreme Court in 50 years,’" the commercial says. "Moderate? Nice try."