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. This should have been a time to let his family grieve.
Instead, within minutes, Republicans politicized the news.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said, "This vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President." Senator 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."
Democratic Leader Harry Reid responded, "Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate's most essential Constitutional responsibilities."
This could turn into a Constitutional crisis. Things are moving fast and conventional wisdom will unfortunately be formed quickly. Silence is not an option.
The PCCC has already reached out to top Senate offices and will send this petition to Senators. The media will surely report on this public outcry.
Instead, within minutes, Republicans politicized the news.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said, "This vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President." Senator 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."
Democratic Leader Harry Reid responded, "Failing to fill this vacancy would be a shameful abdication of one of the Senate's most essential Constitutional responsibilities."
This could turn into a Constitutional crisis. Things are moving fast and conventional wisdom will unfortunately be formed quickly. Silence is not an option.
The PCCC has already reached out to top Senate offices and will send this petition to Senators. The media will surely report on this public outcry.