The
staff of the New York Times' “Upshot”
section deserve praise for timely journalistic enterprise in compiling
and publishing [Feb. 17, 2016] the results of a survey they conducted asking
United States Senators should the Senate vote on a nominee from President Obama
to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia,
or should the next president decide?
The
NYT also listed a selection of detailed responses from senators of both parties. Pillar
to Post Daily Online Magazine selected five responses as examples.
“The
American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme
Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new
President."
Mitch McConnell
Republican, Ky
"Senator
McConnell's pre-emptive statement that he will try to block any nominee of
President Obama to the Supreme Court - no matter how qualified - is a
perversion of the very notion of justice. Surely the American public is
entitled to a Senate that will examine a nominee on his or her own merits. I
urge the President to nominate a successor to Justice Scalia of stellar
qualification and integrity. And I urge the Senate to consider any such nominee
fairly."
Tim Kaine
Democrat, VA
“The next Court appointment should be made by
the newly-elected president. President Obama insists that he will nominate
someone for the Court. He certainly has the authority to do so. But let's be
clear - his nominee will be rejected by the Senate.”
Patrick J. Toomey
Republican, Pa.
I
can’t find a clause in the Constitution that says “…except when there’s a year
left in the term of a Democratic President.”
Elizabeth Warren
Democrat, Mass.
“President
Obama, in my view, should make that nomination. I hope he does it as soon as
possible, and I hope the Senate confirms and begins deliberations as soon as
possible."
Bernie Sanders
Independent, Vt.
For
the entire survey go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/02/17/upshot/scalia-supreme-court-senate-nomination.html?em_pos=small&emc=edit_up_20160217&nl=upshot&nl_art=0&nlid=59357801&ref=headline&te=1&_r=0
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