Here are the facts; 85 percent of the American people believe that campaign finance reform is mandatory if our government is to return to a Democratic Republic. A second fact is that Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, is its greatest detractor.
McConnell has revealed that the passage of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill was the “worst day of his life.” When a reporter asked him if he was ‘bought and paid for,’ the silence was deafening.
McConnell is one of the primary reasons our government is broken. The people of Kentucky performed a disservice to the American people when they reelected the “turtle.” He led Senate Republicans into the ‘party of no’ in 2009.
Just after President Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009, McConnell made an announcement. He said that Republicans would do nothing; their single concern was to insure that the President served only a single term. The word is “fail.”
He has led obstructionists in the Senate and continues to do so. His most recent crime is another act of ignoring the will of the American people, and forcing the Supreme Court to become dysfunctional.
President Obama nominated a moderate to replace Antonin Scalia, the extreme right wing justice who died last year. Merrick Garland has been lauded by members of both parties as a qualified and fair-minded judge. He presently holds the position of ‘Chief Justice of the Appellate Court.’ McConnell said that he will leave the position open for a year by refusing to hold a confirmation hearing. Without nine justices, the Court cannot be effective.
This is not only the action of a man who places his party before the people of the United States, it is proof that he hates the American people and the Constitution. The Court is critical to our democracy; McConnell is not.
He is also displaying his ignorance. If Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton wins the presidency, they are likely to nominate a far more liberal justice. If Democrats regain the Senate, passage will be virtually guaranteed.
God forbid, but there is a possibility that Donald Trump could nominate a justice. Who would it be; Sarah Palin, Ann Coulter, or Rush Limbaugh?
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey
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