Barrett could lead the way to unity
Amy Coney Barrett: You have a unique opportunity before you.
The history of Judge Merrick Garland’s nomination in 2016 contrasted with yours appears to most Americans — according to polls — to be an extremely unfair exercise of partisan politics by a Republican Party whose position in 2016 was that the people should decide through the presidential election who appoints the next justice.
This display could not come at a worse time. Americans are as divided as they have been since the Civil War. Politicians in both parties seem incapable of working for reconciliation. All of this is a result of constitutional processes that are patently unfair, allowing a minority of voters from small states to impose their will on the majority.
Everything I have read about you leads me to believe you are a decent person and you seriously believe your role as a lawyer is a way to advance Christian ideals and values.
History has allowed you to demonstrate those values in a way none of our politicians have the integrity or courage to do. You have a chance to say to the people of this county, “This is the way adults behave. This is the way true Christians who love their fellow man more than they love themselves respond when confronted with a moral dilemma. You do the right thing.”
The Constitution has specific provisions intended to protect minorities from the tyranny of the majority — but few if any going the other way. The tyranny of the minority today is a major threat to our democracy. The move to ram through your confirmation before the people are allowed to express their evaluation of the last four years poses — in many people’s judgment, including mine — an existential threat to respect for all branches of government. A house divided cannot stand.
You are in a unique position to make a major healing contribution to reversing the trend toward division. You can show by example that our country and our democracy are more important than partisan advantage. The only question is whether you dare to do it.
What is it you can do?
You can ask Republican leaders in the Senate to wait until after the election to confirm. Or you can withdraw your nomination any time before the confirmation vote.
If you ask them to wait and President Donald Trump wins, you could then be confirmed. If he loses, you should withdraw. That might not stop the Republicans from trying to rush through another appointment before their terms expire, but it would set an incredible example to the American people of what true patriotism looks like, placing country ahead of personal or partisan advantage.
As a Christian, you might ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?” I know what I think he would have done, but that’s a personal belief, and each of us has our own. But I do not remember many instances in the New Testament where he passed up a chance to heal.
You have that chance. As difficult as it might be, you have a clear opportunity to choose between doing something right and fair, or to gain from what is wrong and unfair. It’s also a chance to do what your religion encourages us all to do: lead by example and demonstrate your values in the life that you live.