HARRIS “PANTS ON FIRE LIED” ABOUT THE LINCOLN QUOTE THAT HE NEVER SAID

Oct. 8, 2020

Rob Lauer Political Reporter

As Vice President Pence said repeatedly last night, to Sen. Harris, you are entitled to your opinion but you are not entitled to your own facts. Harris claimed Pres. Lincoln delayed appointing a Supreme Court Justice 27 days prior to the election of 1864 out of fairness to the electorate but that was an out right lie.

Harris said:

In 1864 — one of the, I think political heroes certainly of the President, I assume of you also, Mr. Vice President, is Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was up for re-election, and it was 27 days before the election. And a seat became open on the United States Supreme Court. Abraham Lincoln’s party was in charge, not only of the White House, but the Senate. But Honest Abe said, “It’s not the right thing to do. The American people deserve to make the decision about who will be the next president of the United States. And then that person can select who will serve for a lifetime on the highest court of our land.” And so Joe and I are very clear: the American people are voting right now, and it should be their decision about who will serve on this most important body for a lifetime.

Dan McLaughlin of National Review said:

Lincoln, of course, said no such thing. He sent no nominee to the Senate in October 1864 because the Senate was out of session until December. He sent a nominee the day after the session began, and Salmon P. Chase was confirmed the same day. And Lincoln wanted to dangle the nomination before Chase and several other potential candidates because he wanted them to campaign for him. Lincoln’s priority was winning the election, which was necessary to win the war — and he filled the vacancy at the first possible instant.

Kamala Harris is simply inventing history.