In response to his column published March 24 (“Commentary: Senate does its job by stalling Supreme Court confirmation process”), what on earth is Sen. Orrin Hatch afraid of? Protesters?

President Lincoln placed his political career – and the country – on the line to hold a presidential election in the middle of the Civil War because he had faith in the American people and because that’s what the Constitution required him to do. In contrast, the senator is cowering because a few loud people with signs interrupted his well-orchestrated political outing.

Democracy is messy. Whether the signs were hand-lettered or printed on glossy paper, those carrying them were Americans, with the right to disagree with the senator and the Senate. Dismissing those Americans out of hand as part of a faceless “liberal” cartel is unfair. More importantly, it is no excuse not to proceed with the constitutionally mandated process of choosing the next Supreme Court judge when a vacancy requires it.

Yes, this is a contentious election season, but when is it not? We don’t crown kings, we elect presidents. If Sen. Hatch is waiting for the election season to be over, he will be waiting a long time – even a short Internet search of media coverage will show the 2016 election began before the end of the 2012 election.

Yes, the mood of the public is unpleasant; too bad. The job of a senator is not to stifle public debate, even if it is uncomfortable. It is to uphold the Constitution.

Copy the Story Link