Quote:
Originally Posted by PepsiFree
Can you provide some evidence of the Democrats “flip flopping”? I mean we have clear evidence of Republicans saying one thing in 2016, and despite the situation being much closer to the election this time, completely changing their position. You would think 9 months closer to an election would strengthen any “let the American people decide” and soften any “we’ll push through our person” rhetoric, right? Not the opposite?
In the end though, you can pretend this is a partisan issue if you want, and continue to pretend like you’re not partisan yourself, but anyone can look and this critically and see that this is a pretty simple issue: what the Democrats think didn’t matter in 2016 and it doesn’t matter in 2020, because they did not have the power to decide the outcome. The GOP did and does, that’s why it matters.
If you think “everybody flip flops” or “hypocrisy is just part of politics” are thoughtful responses to this issue, then you don’t understand the issue. And given how simple it is, the inability to understand why this is an issue probably stems from some deeply partisan thinking.
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I don't think the Democrats flip-flopped on anything.
Obama nominated Merrick Garland as he was supposed to do.
McConnell argued that in an election year, it should be up to the American people to decide.
February 13, 2016: "The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president."
February 16, 2016: "Given that we are in the midst of the presidential election process, we believe that the American people should seize the opportunity to weigh in on whom they trust to nominate the next person for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. It is today the American people, rather than a lame-duck president whose priorities and policies they just rejected in the most-recent national election, who should be afforded the opportunity to replace Justice Scalia."
February 22, 2016: "[W]hile finding the right person to take the seat [Scalia] occupied will clearly be a monumental task, it's one we think the American people are more than equipped to tackle. Some disagree and would rather the Senate simply push through yet another lifetime appointment from a president who's on his way out the door...I believe that it is today the American people who are best-positioned to help make this important decision."
February 23, 2016: "The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter after the American people finish making in November the decision they've already started making today....[Mr. Obama] could let the people decide and make this an actual legacy-building moment, rather than just another campaign roadshow."
March 20, 2016: "We think the important principle in the middle of this presidential election, which is raging, is that American people need to weigh in and decide who's going to make this decision."
March 20, 2016: "The American people are about to weigh in on who is going to be the president. And that's the person, whoever that may be, who ought to be making this appointment."
This caused a constitutional crisis. Do you hold confirmation hearings in the middle of an election? Or, do you wait and let the voice the American people have a say on that nomination?
The Democrats argued that the nomination should be held immediately. Upholding the current rules.
The Republicans argued that it should be an election issue. Creating a new rule.
The Republicans won and set the precedent and made a new rule. Now here we are 4 years later and the Republicans want to throw out the rule they just made.
The Democrats are arguing the uphold the rules.
If anything, their stance is the same. Follow the rules, same rules for everyone.