To: The United States Senate
Justice Scalia dies. Republicans politicize within minutes.
An Obama nomination for Supreme Court deserves an up or down vote. Republicans are free to vote yes or no, but should not obstruct our democracy from moving forward.
Why is this important?
Progressives agreed with Scalia on almost nothing. But this should have been first and foremost about his family having time to grieve.
Instead, within minutes, Republicans politicized the news -- saying the Senate should not confirm any nominee by President Obama.
Ted Cruz declared, "Justice Scalia was an American hero. We owe it to him, and the nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next President names his replacement." Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement, "This vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President."
Things are moving fast and conventional wisdom will unfortunately be formed quickly. Silence is not an option.
We will send this petition to senators -- and the media will surely report on this public outcry.
Again, this should have been first and foremost a time for the Justice's family to grieve. But with the stakes so high for workers, women, minorities, and so many other people, we cannot be silent as Republicans try to steal a Supreme Court seat by obstructing our constitutional process.
Instead, within minutes, Republicans politicized the news -- saying the Senate should not confirm any nominee by President Obama.
Ted Cruz declared, "Justice Scalia was an American hero. We owe it to him, and the nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next President names his replacement." Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement, "This vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President."
Things are moving fast and conventional wisdom will unfortunately be formed quickly. Silence is not an option.
We will send this petition to senators -- and the media will surely report on this public outcry.
Again, this should have been first and foremost a time for the Justice's family to grieve. But with the stakes so high for workers, women, minorities, and so many other people, we cannot be silent as Republicans try to steal a Supreme Court seat by obstructing our constitutional process.