A message from Chuck Schumer to the GOP delivered February 22, 2016

When Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to hold confirmation hearings or a vote on President Obama’s final Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, Democrats were enraged. The reasoning McConnell cited was the fact that it was an election year with a new president to be elected a few months later. It was a political move, of course; had a Republican been in the White House, McConnell would not have delayed.

That’s one of the problems with political parties and both sides play the same game. They tend to do what’s expedient for their party by making the rules convenient as they go. But fair is fair. If some want to complain that McConnell is being inconsistent by pledging to hold a vote for President Trump’s nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, others can complain that Schumer is being inconsistent by claiming now that it shouldn’t be done. In 2016, he held a very different position.

Attn GOP: Senate has confirmed 17 #SCOTUS justices in presidential election years. #DoYourJob pic.twitter.com/Mdm0P5SRC4

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 23, 2016

President Trump intends to nominate a woman for the open seat next week. When he does, Democrats will cry foul. Some NeverTrump Republicans will cry foul. Mainstream media will cry foul. But at the end of the day, McConnell is right. He has been given responsibility to the American people to push President Trump’s agenda and oppose the Democrats. That’s why his party was given the majority in 2014, held it in 2016, and expanded it in 2018.

The Senate and the nation mourn the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the conclusion of her extraordinary American life.

My full statement: pic.twitter.com/NOwYLhDxIk

— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) September 19, 2020

The only thing consistent on Capitol Hill is partisanship. Chuck Schumer is crying foul now, but he was saying the exact opposite four years ago. His current outrage isn’t just disingenuous. It’s outright embarrassing.