GOP gets a taste of own medicine
Under ordinary circumstances, a distinguished legal scholar who is within the mainstream of conservatism like Judge Neil Gorsuch should and would be confirmed without undue delay as Associate Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court. These are not ordinary circumstances.
The Republicans have decided that Democrats should not have a say in who sits on the Supreme Court even when a Democratic president is in office. Distinguished centrist Judge Merrick Garland was hung out to dry for almost a year, the Republicans using a ruse to deny him even the opportunity for a hearing, knowing that if that took place, the American people would demand that he be approved.
When it appeared clear that Hillary Clinton would become president, Republican U. S. senators John McCain and Richard Burr went so far as to say that they would stand in the way of anyone she would nominate to the court.
Additionally, the president who nominated Judge Gorsuch has shown no willingness to throw any bone to Democrats. He has appointed not one to any prominent position in his administration and his tone has been one of hostility with no olive branch in evidence.
Now, the shoe is on the other foot and the Republicans are outraged that the Democrats would dare to stand in the way of a speedy vote to place their nominee on the Court.
The Republicans threw down the gauntlet last year when they refused to allow President Obama a selection on the Supreme Court and now they expect the Democrats to fold their tent and cooperate? Can they be so presumptuous and naive?
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair