Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

GOP stonewalling

I watched President Obama’s speech on the rationale for the Senate to proceed with hearings on Justice Merrick Garland, and the Republican response by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-S.C. President Obama is correct in expecting the Senate to do its constitutional duty. Sen. Tillis and the Republican Party are changing the Constitution’s words without changing the Constitution.

I served under oath as a captain in the U.S. Army (1968-74) and continue to honor my oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. What the Republicans are doing in my view is a form of sedition in adding the words “except in an election year” to the mandated “advise and consent.”

Not meeting and holding hearings and a vote is not advise and consent of any manner. It’s stonewalling.

John Olsen

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
letters@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-5098
Phone
(509) 459-5403

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy