During Barack Obama’s eight years, Democrats argued Republicans should honor America’s wishes and pass Obama’s nominees (nearly all nominees were sworn in within only two weeks), but now that the tables have turned, Democrats have threatened to obstruct President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees. Some Senate Democrats plotting to delay the nominees are even from states that went for Donald Trump.
Senator Sherrod Brown
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) plans to fall in line with his party leaders and delay President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominations, straying far from his original statements about presidential nominees:
“And we have 59 Democrats. We don’t get them all on every issue, of course, nor should we, probably. But there will be a number of Republicans that vote with us if they’re embarrassed by their party that’s simply engaged in obstructionism.”
Is Sen. Brown embarrassed by his party’s latest political stunt obstructing nominees – nominees appointed by President-elect Trump, who won Sen. Brown’s home state by 8%?
After President Obama won in 2008, Sen. Brown said cabinet nominees should be approved right away, arguing “voters want something different.” However, after Ohio voted and clearly wants something different, Sen. Brown has turned his back on the Buckeye State, putting politics over Ohioans.
Senator Claire McCaskill
As for Missouri – a state President-elect Trump won by 19%, Senator Claire McCaskill also faces the choice to obstruct the cabinet nominees. But in 2013, Sen. McCaskill said:
“As much as some people in this room don’t like it, he was elected president of the United States by the American people… I do think a great deal of deference should be given to the commander in chief on his selection.”
She may not like it, but the American people – and Missouri – elected Donald Trump. Should she choose to obstruct any of his nominees, she will be defying the her own constituents’ wishes.
Tim Kaine
Hillary Clinton’s running mate, Senator Tim Kaine, also thought deference was necessary when considering presidential nominees in 2013, saying:
“I think we owe deference to a president for choices to executive positions, and I think that that is a very important thing to grapple with. The American public choose someone to be President, they’re giving that individual a mandate to govern, and that mandate includes the assembly of the team that the President feels is the appropriate team.”
Sen. Kaine has a history of standing with his party bosses – such as Hillary Clinton. Will he ignore America’s wishes only to continue his attempts to move up the political ladder?
How You Can Help
Senate Democrats must respect President-elect Trump’s nominations. We hope these senators will listen to America and their own constituents, and they confirm our new cabinet expeditiously. Sign the petition to show Democrats that you stand with our next Attorney General, Jeff Sessions!
