He announces that he and his fellow Democrats will obstruct every single future Bush Supreme Court nominee. Schumer’s announcement illustrates that the Democrats are disregarding the Constitution: they have completely over stepped their advice and consent boundaries:
New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer, a powerful member of the Democratic leadership, said Friday the Senate should not confirm another U.S. Supreme Court nominee under President Bush “except in extraordinary circumstances.”
“We should reverse the presumption of confirmation,” Schumer told the American Constitution Society convention in Washington. “The Supreme Court is dangerously out of balance. We cannot afford to see Justice Stevens replaced by another Roberts, or Justice Ginsburg by another Alito.”
In other words, if another Supreme Court position opens up, the Democrats are going to hold the high court hostage until the Democrats can get the nominee they want. Schumer isn’t even acknowledging Bush’s constitutional right to the nominee of his choice; instead, he is telling the entire country that the only nominees that are acceptable are those that the Democrats want.
The White House fired back quickly:
A White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, said Schumer’s comments show “a tremendous disrespect for the Constitution” by suggesting that the Senate not confirm nominees.
“This is the kind of blind obstruction that people have come to expect from Sen. Schumer,” Perino said. “He has an alarming habit of attacking people whose character and position make them unwilling or unable to respond. That is the sign of a bully. If the past is any indication, I would bet that we would see a Democratic senatorial fundraising appeal in the next few days.”
The Democrats have proven themselves to be of no use to the American people. Instead, they exist for one reason: to obstruct President Bush.
