Sen. Merkley, ‘Our Citizens Expect More’

Sen. Merkley Used To Claim ‘The Norms And Traditions Of The U.S. Senate Regarding Nominations … Is An Up-Or-Down Vote,’ And Denounced ‘Powerful Interest Groups’ That Were Behind The ‘Paralysis And Partisanship’ That ‘Hurt Our Nation’

SEN. JEFF MERKLEY (D-OR): “[W]e cannot allow this process in which a minority says: When our President is in charge we are going to insist on up-or-down votes, but when a President of the other party is in charge, we are not going to allow those votes.” (Sen. Merkley, Congressional Record, S.8295, 11/20/2013)

• MERKLEY: “What are the norms and traditions of the U.S. Senate regarding nominations? It is an up-or-down vote, with rare exception.” (Sen. Merkley, Congressional Record, S.8295, 11/20/2013)

• MERKLEY: “Let's be clear: There should not be an ‘our President’ and ‘their President.’ The President is the President of the entire country, of the blue States and the red States, altogether. The judicial system serves all of us regardless of our party identities. It is our responsibility to make it work.” (Sen. Merkley, Congressional Record, S.8295, 11/20/2013)

• MERKLEY: “[U]nited minority caucuses, backed by powerful interest groups, seek to use the supermajority requirement to block action and discredit the majority. The resulting paralysis and partisanship hurt our nation. They are probably the largest element behind the low opinion of the Senate. Our citizens expect more.” (Sen. Merkley, Op-Ed, “Why ‘Supermajority’ No Longer Works In The Senate,” The Washington Post, 11/04/2011)

• MERKLEY: “The filibuster, once used only on issues of personal principle, is now used regularly as an instrument of partisan politics. It hurts our ability to take on the big challenges we face as Americans. And we need to fix it. We must put an end to the secret, silent filibuster that is haunting the Senate.” (Sen. Merkley, Press Release, 1/04/2013)

• MERKLEY: “[T]he Senate is broken... Our role of advice and consent has been turned into obstruct and delay in terms of nominations for the executive branch and the judiciary. We have a constitutional responsibility to express our opinion, but this body, by using the filibuster, has prevented Senators from advising and consenting, either approving or disapproving these nominations.” (Sen. Merkley, Congressional Record, S. 37, 1/05/2011)

Now Sen. Merkley Has Fallen In Line Behind ‘Powerful Interest Groups’

“Democrats Launch Scorched-Earth Strategy Against Trump: What began as a high-minded discussion about how to position the Democratic Party against President Donald Trump appears to be nearing its conclusion. The bulk of the party has settled on a scorched-earth, not-now-not-ever model of opposition. In legislative proposals, campaign promises, donor pitches and even in some Senate hearings, Democrats have opted for a hard-line, give-no-quarter posture, a reflection of a seething party base that will have it no other way. …teeth-baring, no-holds-barred opposition.” (“Democrats Launch Scorched-Earth Strategy Against Trump,” Politico, 1/26/2017)

“The mobilization against Mr. Trump began even before his victory was official. At just after midnight on Election Day, panicked immigration rights activists gathered for a conference call to strategize. A few days later, more than 80 representatives of 57 progressive groups convened in the offices of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in Washington. The mood was intense, angry and unforgiving, according to people who attended the confidential organizing session, which included representatives from labor, environmental groups, immigration activists, gay rights and civil rights organizations.” (“Obama May Jump Into Fray As Democrats Counter Trump,” The New York Times, 11/19/16)

• “Those groups, led by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, People for the American Way and the Alliance for Justice, have worked together on Supreme Court nominations since they helped to block conservative nominee Robert Bork in 1987.” (“Nomination Politics Begin For Sotomayor,” USA Today, 5/28/09)

• “Liberal groups are preparing for war under Donald Trump. Top Democratic operatives are huddling this week in a series of meetings to strategize…” (“Liberal Groups Steel Themselves To Battle Trump,” Politico, 11/15/16)

LEFTIST GROUP PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY: “…a Supreme Court to which a President Trump is able to nominate even one or two new justices. …the consequences to all Americans would be disastrous. …all Americans must keep this nightmare scenario in mind as they head to the polls in November.” (“The Disastrous Consequences Of A Trump Supreme Court,” People For The American Way, 9/9/16)

• MARGE BAKER, PFAW: “Donald Trump has also been clear about the kind of justice he’d appoint to our nation’s highest court… he’s already published a list of twenty potential Supreme Court nominees whose views range from extremely conservative to downright frightening.” (Op-Ed, “A Critical Topic At Wednesday’s Debate: The Supreme Court,” Huffington Post, 10/18/16)

• ELLIOT MINCBERG, PFAW: “…the prospect of Trump nominees to the Supreme Court is truly frightening.” (“New Trump Supreme Court List Makes Even Clearer The Dangers Of A Trump Court,” The Huffington Post, 9/26/16)

• “Marge Baker, executive vice president of the liberal group People for the American Way, said none of the 21 names Trump promised to select from during the campaign were acceptable. ‘They’re all going to be a fight,’ Baker said.” (“Trump's Team Gets Ready For Supreme Court Fight,” Politico, 1/30/17)

LEFTIST ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE: “‘We are prepared to oppose every name on Trump’s list,’ Nan Aron, the president of the Alliance for Justice, one of the Democratic-leaning groups that has been planning for the court battle since Mr. Trump’s election. ‘The progressive, civil rights community will be united in opposition to either of those prospects or anyone else on the list.’” (“A Supreme Court Pick Is Promised. A Political Brawl Is Certain,” The New York Times, 1/25/17)

• “Nan Aron, the president of the Alliance for Justice, started calling law firms in Washington the day after the election, beginning the process of opposition research on Mr. Trump’s likely Supreme Court nominees. Dozens of lawyers eagerly signed up for what is sure to be a heated battle over the direction of the court for a generation.” (“Obama May Jump Into Fray As Democrats Counter Trump,” The New York Times, 11/19/16)