by Wayne D. King
There will be many of my friends and allies who will find reason to disagree with me on this and I readily confess that I find it hard to swallow myself but I think the nomination of Neil Goresuch to the Supreme Court offers an opportunity - as Michelle Obama would say - "to go high" and achieve more than a pitched battle would achieve.
I know, I know, the bad taste of what the Republicans did to President Obama and Merrick Garland - and to the country and constitution is still strong. My own first reaction was that we should give them a taste of their own medicine but having reflected on this a bit more I have a different idea.
We have a powerful teachable moment presenting itself to us. Democrats on the Senate panel questioning Judge Goresuch can spend their time grand standing for the base or they can ask Judge Goresuch to help them analyze what happened with Judge Garland and how the country might avoid ever falling into this trap again.
I don't delude myself into thinking that we can get an apology from Mitch McConnell for putting party before country but we can ask him to do so, over and over, and over until the American people get the message - The Republican party is willingly playing partisan politics in even those moments where our greatest ideals are under threat.
The Republicans are expecting the Democrats to come out with guns blazing knowing that they have all the advantage. Its to their advantage to have the Goresuch hearings leave the American people shaking their heads in disgust and expressing their disdain for the entire lot of them.
On the other hand, if Democrats embarrassed them with a display of forgiveness, patriotism and a genuine concern for bringing the country together, The Republicans will be caught flat footed and Democrats will be able to keep their powder dry for a battle that can be won.
Goresuch is quite likely to be a judge very much in the style of the man he will replace in both temperment and philosophy. His philosophy aside, every indication is that he is fully deserving of the honor of being chosen and will acquit himself well as a member of the nation's highest court.
There is really nothing that can be done to right the wrongs of the Garland debacle. The best we can hope for is a moment of "Truth and Reconciliation" where the guilty party admits their crime against American ideals and the constitution and the American public gets to see the difference between Democrats who love their country and Republicans who love their party.
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