Another Democrat comes out in support of Neil Gorsuch likely under the false belief that it gives them better odds of winning their election. In a year favorable to Democrats, Republican holding the line on Merrick Garland was effective.
Why do Democrats like Heidi Heitkamp consistently believe that acquiescing to sabotage and bullying would make voters support them in higher numbers?
Senator Heidi Heitkamp tweeted the following expressing her ill-advised support for Neil Gorsuch.
“As I said after Judge Garland was nominated and I’ve continued to say since Judge Gorsuch was nominated, one of the most important roles of a U.S. senator is to vet nominees to fill vacancies on the U.S. Supreme Court and I take that job very seriously,” said Heitkamp. “After doing my due diligence by meeting with Judge Gorsuch and reviewing his record and testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, I’ve decided to vote in favor of his confirmation. He has a record as a balanced, meticulous, and well respected jurist who understands the rule of law. He has unique and critical experience with tribal sovereignty, Indian law, and public lands issues in the west, and has received the endorsement of numerous tribes and major Native American organizations. During our meeting and at his hearing, he reinforced the importance of a judiciary that remains independent of the executive and legislative branches of government – and that acts as a proper check and balance on the other two branches of government. I expect him to follow through on that critical tenet.
“This vote does not diminish how disturbed I am by what Republicans did to Judge Garland. Senate Republicans played politics at its worst with an honorable, deeply qualified jurist – arguably the most well qualified nominee in modern history – who had long been supported by Republican and Democratic senators for his unmatched experience. His reward: Republicans refused to give him the fair consideration he deserved – not even a hearing – and his nomination was held open for almost 300 days – by far the longest for a Supreme Court nomination. But I was taught that two wrongs don’t make a right. There isn’t a perfect judge. Regardless of which party is in the White House, the U.S. Supreme Court should be above politics.”
Senator Heitkamp, your support for supporting Gorsuch may not diminish how disturbed you feel about Republicans sabotaging Judge Merrick Garland. But it tells us you are not willing to stop Republican intransigence by being another Democrat that simply allow them to run over Democrats.
As I mentioned in my post when Senator Joe Manchin came out in support of Gorsuch,
The issue is that unlike the Republicans, the Democrats have two legitimate reasons to do all that is necessary to block Neil Gorsuch. First, it is not wrong to fight against filling a stolen Supreme Court seat. Doing so permanently corrupts our Democracy by implicitly acquiescing to said corruption.
Second, it is becoming more and more evident that Donald Trump was likely elected knowingly with an assist from Russia or folks working under the direction of Russia’s Vladimir Putin. As such one cannot allow what would be purported an illegitimate president to appoint a Supreme Court Justice, a life long position.
It is true that the Republicans may destroy the filibuster to force Gorsuch’s appointment. But that is likely what would have happened for any nominee, Gorsuch’s or anyone’s going forward. By standing up now, Democrats show that they have a spine. The consequences are no different that what it would have been if they showed no spine. Showing spine will keep their supporters envigorated.
I hope your constituents will find someone who shows more desire to confront Republicans. Unless we stop their bullying, Democrats will never get middle-class policies enacted.