It’s Obama’s appointment

Senate Republicans who say that replacing Justice Antonin Scalia should wait a year until the next president is in office are being both irresponsible and foolish. They are assuming Obama will be replaced by a Republican, which is unwarranted.

Suppose a Democrat wins the White House. Would they prefer an appointment by Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton?

Too many important issues are before the court for Scalia’s post to remain vacant. Were a Republican president now, Republicans would be clamoring for a replacement. Their partisanship is disgusting.

Presidents are elected for eight years, and Obama will be president until next January. As Scalia himself said once, “Get over it.” Obama has the right and the responsibility to nominate a replacement for any U.S. Supreme Court vacancies, and the Senate has the duty to consider those nominees.

Marian Hennings

Spokane