What are they thinking? Some Democratic senators, including Delaware’s Chris Coons, are apparently considering striking a backroom deal with Republicans to confirm Neil Gorsuch, Trump’s extreme-right wing pick for the Supreme Court.1 Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet heaped praise on Gorsuch while helping introduce the judge to the Senate Judiciary Committee.2 This week, Sens. Joe Manchin and Heidi Heitkamp announced they are going to vote to confirm Gorsuch. Eleven other Democratic senators have still not said where they stand. They are letting us down.
Senate Democrats are the only firewall against a Donald Trump Supreme Court that will legitimize his hateful policies, undo decades of civil rights progress and destroy the foundations of our democracy for generations. Senators like Manchin and Heitkamp who fail to defend the court are betraying the Democratic Party’s base – women, LGBTQ people, immigrants, Muslims, people of color and workers. They are turning their backs on the environment and the bedrock principles of our democracy.
It is time for Democratic Party leaders to stop turning a blind eye to Trump collaborators within their Party and do everything they can to build a party ready to oppose Trump’s fascism. That starts with refusing to give financial support to Sens. Manchin and Heitkamp or any other turncoat Democratic senator who collaborates with extremist Republicans to put Gorsuch on the Supreme Court.
Tell Democratic Senate Campaign Committee Chair Chris Van Hollen to pledge not to allocate any re-election funds for Sens. Manchin and Heitkamp or any other senators who help put Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court. Click here to sign the petition.
The Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC) is the Senate Democrats’ campaigning and fundraising arm. It is known for its prolific fundraising appeals, which have recently included direct requests for donations to help defend the Supreme Court.
It would be the height of hypocrisy to use money raised to keep Gorsuch off the court to fund the re-election campaigns of senators like Manchin and Heitkamp who are helping him get a lifetime appointment.
A Trump Supreme Court could institutionalize his extremism for generations. Democrats cannot cave at a time when the FBI is actively investigating Trump and his campaign’s potential collusion with Russia to influence our presidential election. They cannot turn their backs against the massive resistance of grassroots activists who just helped to take down Trumpcare.
Progressive champion Sen. Jeff Merkley is leading the effort to use the filibuster to force Senate Republicans to get 60 votes to advance Gorsuch’s confirmation to a final vote. Every Senate Democrat should join the filibuster and refuse to collaborate with extremist Senate Republicans to put Gorsuch on the bench. And DSCC Chair Chris Van Hollen should immediately make clear that any senator who joins Sen. Manchin and Heitkamp in handing the Supreme Court to Trump should not receive re-election funds from the DSCC.
Tell DSCC Chair Van Hollen: Defund democrats who refuse to defend the Supreme Court. Click here to sign the petition.
Trump and extremist Republicans already control two of the three branches of government, leaving the judiciary as our last and only line of defense against their hateful and dangerous agenda.
It is time for Democratic Party leaders, starting with DSCC Chair Van Hollen, to take a firm stand and draw a bright line. Senators who help advance Gorsuch’s nomination will be helping Trump attack women, people of color, Muslims, immigrants, LGBTQ people, workers and the environment. They will be turning their backs on the Party’s base, and the Party will refuse to support their re-election.
Click the link below to add your voice to ramp up the pressure on Sen. Van Hollen today:
https://act.credoaction.com/sign/DSCC_Gorsuch?t=7&akid=22412.8847717.McAl8J
Thanks for taking action,
Heidi Hess, Senior Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets
References:
- Burgess Everett, "Democrats weigh deal to let Gorsuch through," POLITICO, March 22, 2017.
- Matt Flegenheimer, Carl Hulse, Charlie Savage and Adam Liptak, "Six Highlights From the Gorsuch Confirmation Hearing," The New York Times, March 20, 2017.
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