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Sohn: Jesus and the Supreme Court vacancy

Protesters from the "People for the American Way" outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Feb. 15, 2016. In a largely overlooked passage in his dissent from the court’s decision in June establishing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, Justice Antonin Scalia left detailed suggestions for the sort of person he would have wanted President Obama to name as his successor. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)
Protesters from the "People for the American Way" outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Feb. 15, 2016. In a largely overlooked passage in his dissent from the court’s decision in June establishing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage, Justice Antonin Scalia left detailed suggestions for the sort of person he would have wanted President Obama to name as his successor. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

By Pam Sohn 3 min read

Little has shown the Republican-majority Congress to be so stubbornly determined not to lead as Senate leaders’ pronouncement this week that they will not consider, not vote, not even meet with a President Barack Obama Supreme Court nominee.

“In short, there will not be action taken,”said Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, as he urged President Obama to not even submit a name to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

The pledge was about as clear as it gets that the Senate’s GOP-majority will do everything it can to thumb its nose at President Obama and try to prevent any possible shift in the ideological balance of the nation’s high court. Until Scalia’s unexpected death, the court vote usually split along partisan lines with a 5-4 vote tilted to conservatives. The real message of Senate leaders was unmistakable: Forget the business of the country and by all means let’s keep our ideological fiefdoms in place.

McConnell and other Republicans said the president should “let the people decide” with the November election.

Of course, the people already decided. Twice. They voted President Obama into office to lead this country until Jan. 20, 2017. And, by the way, since 1900, the Senate has voted on eight Supreme Court nominees during an election year. Six were confirmed.