"We're getting Gorsuch as a justice
"He's got a brilliant legal mind
"Oh, Mama mia! Another Scalia!
"For justice of the court, Neil's fine!"
That's a verse from a song sung – to the tune of “Get Me to the Church on Time,” from the Broadway musical My Fair Lady – last week in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, by a group calling itself “The Confirm Gorsuch Ensemble.”
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin didn't sing with the ensemble, but he does share the sentiments the group expressed in song, and he did announce the very next day on March 30 that he intends to support the nomination of Neil Gorsuch.
“After considering his record, watching his testimony in front of the Judiciary Committee, and meeting with him twice, I will vote to confirm him to be the ninth justice on the Supreme Court,” Manchin announced in a statement, becoming the first Senate Democrat to weigh in in favor of President Trump's nominee to replace the late Antonin Scalia.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Gorsuch April 3 in a party-line vote and the full Senate vote is scheduled for April 7.
“Senators have a constitutional obligation to advise and consent on a nominee to fill this Supreme Court vacancy and, simply put, we have a responsibility to do our jobs as elected officials,” Manchin affirmed.
“Supreme Court jurists should have an extensive career in law, a record of upholding the Constitution in their rulings, an established judicial philosophy, and an appropriate temperament,” he said, citing highlights of Gorsuch's extensive legal experience.
“Throughout Judge Gorsuch’s career, he has come to his legal rulings objectively,” Manchin said, “through the letter of the law rather than through his own opinion.”
Democrats call for bipartisanship when they're in the majority, but rarely practice it when they're not. Kudos to Manchin for having the courage to resist the obstructionism of his party and do what's right for our country. Other Democrats should follow his lead.
