Senator Shelley Moore Capito a short time ago:

My statement regarding @realDonaldTrump's intent to fill the United States Supreme Court vacancy following the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: pic.twitter.com/TTeBXnQss3

— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) September 22, 2020

Of course, this is the opposite of what she said four years ago. (See previous post.) Will any West Virginia media source ask the senator about her position change and then not settle for a totally unrelated response? I would certainly be surprised. Which media sources, in their coverage of Capito's statement, will even point to her statement from 2016? Hopefully, a few. (The AP? The Charleston Gazette? WV Metro News? Certainly, not Ogden.) I will update as I watch how Capito's statement is covered.

Coverage updates

WV Metro News

WV Metro News calls it a "shift":

Capito supports considering Supreme Court nominee, a shift from her 2016 position

(While her actions are a "shift," I might have used something a bit stronger and more accurate. A "reversal"?)

Hoppy Kercheval

More importantly, Senator Capito was on Hoppy Kercheval's "Talkline" program to discuss broadband with the Chairman of the FCC. Before getting to broadband, Kercheval first asked Capito about her 2016 statement on Supreme Court appointments in an election year. Capito replied that "circumstances have changed" in that (1) Trump was elected and (2) in 2018, there was the "defamation of Kavanaugh" (the "Lindsay Graham defense" which has nothing to do with what happened in 2016 nor what is happening now). Kercheval was clearly pressed for time since he also had the FCC Chair on another line. Consequently, after Capito dodged his questions, the senator was asked to come back once a candidate was named. She agreed. (I thought Kercheval, given his time constraints, did a good job. I will be anxious to hear the follow-up.)

(The Supreme Court discussion is the first 2:30 of the following:

FCC Chairman @AjitPaiFCC and @SenCapito speak with Hoppy Kercheval about the broadband plans for West Virginia. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIRZCB pic.twitter.com/fTHdK0JUm2

— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) September 22, 2020