A week of remembrances of Sen. John McCain reminded us that whatever our political differences, as Americans we are ultimately all on the same team. This is why all Americans should be shocked at the cavalier fashion which the Republican majority members of the Senate Judiciary Committee (on which both Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee sit) are acting concerning the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Kavanaugh.
After refusing to meet with or hold a hearing for Obama’s nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, leaving a vacancy on the court for over a year, Republicans now are eager to rush through President Donald Trump’s latest nominee. In furtherance of that rush, they have acquiesced in the administration's denying access to over 100,000 documents relating to Kavanaugh’s years in the George W. Bush White House. By the nominee’s admission, these were his most formative professional years.
Kavanaugh ultimately may be found qualified, but given the importance of this lifetime appointment, senators should be able to question him based on his full record. We already have a president who seeks to undermine the rule of law on a daily basis. Watching Senate Republicans ignore long-established norms, shirk their constitutional duties and follow the president down that path is truly disheartening.
Ira Rubinfeld, Salt Lake City