Obama Taps Kagan for Supreme Court Post

Fox News has learned that President Obama will nominate Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court this morning at 10am, Eastern. The president called Kagan last night to inform her of his decision.
 
Kagan arrived at the White House shortly after 8am and will join the president and vice president at the announcement in the East Room. She and Mr. Obama will each make remarks.

Fox's Major Garrett has learned that the White House informed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid this morning and Senators are already lining up for the traditional Capitol Hill meet and greets with Kagan, which could begin tomorrow.

If confirmed by the Senate, the relatively young Kagan-- 50 years old-- will fill the gap left by the imminent retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens.

The pick is hardly a surprise; as speculation over a handful of choices finally settled on Kagan over the weekend. Liberals and conservatives alike speculatively staked out positions on her nomination. Conservatives have already said Kagan's confirmation would amount to a rubber stamp of the Obama agenda that many Americans are opposed to.

Hurdles for Kagan in her confirmation process could include the fact that she has never been a judge and her push to oust military recruiters from the Harvard Law School campus when she was dean. Kagan opposes the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

Democrats, on the other hand, may like that Kagan is known for her ability to coalesce opposing sides and the fact that when she worked for President Clinton, she successfully negotiated with Republican Senator John McCain (AZ) for federal authority to control the sale of cigarettes.