The cartoon image above (by Roman Genn in National Review) represents the fear of many in the Democratic base -- the fear that congressional Democrats will once again show they are spineless, and give in to whatever the Republicans want. It has happened in the past, but the stakes are too high now. With Republicans controlling both the White House and Congress, it is imperative for Democrats to stand their ground and fight harder than ever for the values their constituents believe in.
Unfortunately, it seems that there are still some congressional Democrats who have yet to grow a spine. Nine Senate Democrats are ready to abandon the filibuster and give Trump's SCOTUS nominee a vote on the Senate floor (in spite of the GOP's unwillingness to do the same during Obama's term). They are willing to lay down and let an ultra-conservative on the Supreme Court -- a man who will vote against every thing Democrats hold dear (equality, consumer protection, Roe v Wade, etc.).
If these nine actually follow through with this, it will mean no filibuster can survive. There are only 48 Democrats (including the 2 Independents who caucus with them), and they would not have the 41 votes necessary to sustain a filibuster.
This is scary. If these Democrats won't fight for something this important, then what will they fight for -- anything? Here are the "Democrats" willing to throw their party, their base, and their country under the bus -- and what they have to say about it.
CHRIS COONS (Delaware)
“I’m not going to do to President Trump’s nominee what the Republicans in the Senate did to President Obama’s. I will push for a hearing and I will push for a vote.”
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (Connecticut)
“I will support having a hearing and a vote because I think the president’s nominee deserves that consideration.”
JOE MANCHIN (West Virginia)
“I’m not going to filibuster anybody.”
DICK DURBIN (Illinois)
“I will meet with Judge Gorsuch and support a hearing and a vote for him.”
HEIDI HEITKAMP (North Dakota)
“Asked if the nominee should also get a straight up-or-down vote rather than be blocked by a filibuster, she replied: ‘Absolutely.’”
CLAIRE MCCASKILL (Missouri)
“We should have a full confirmation hearing process and a vote on any nominee for the Supreme Court.”
JON TESTER (Montana)
“There’s no doubt what they did [on Garland] was wrong and unconstitutional. In the end, I don’t think we should play their game. Have a hearing and vote.”
JOE DONNELLY (Indiana)
“As I have said part of our job as Senators includes considering, debating, and voting on judicial nominations, including the Supreme Court. I will carefully review and consider the record and qualifications of Neil Gorsuch.”
JEANNE SHAHEEN (New Hampshire)
“Unlike the Republican majority, I haven’t heard any Democrats saying we don’t think that Judge Gorsuch should get a hearing or that he should get an up-or-down vote. Everybody I’ve talked to agrees he should get a hearing and an up-or-down vote.”
