GOP unwise to blindly reject Supreme Court nominee: #tellusatoday

A partisan war has broken out over replacing Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Letters to the editor:

Paste BN’s editorial “Fill Supreme Court void left by brilliant Scalia: Our view” was well founded. Unfortunately, it failed to single out Republicans for their overreaching refusal to perform their obligations with respect to Supreme Court nominations.

Republicans should adhere to the nomination and approval process. President Reagan used it in the election year confirmation of Justice Anthony Kennedy. That appointment process — and the one that will be used by President Obama — has been followed by presidents of both parties and by Senates led by both parties.

Republicans paid the price for shutting down the government, and they will face a similar price for shutting down the Constitution and the Supreme Court.

Paul Rapo; Middle Haddam, Conn.

POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media

Justice Antonin Scalia’s funeral arrangements haven’t even been announced yet. From the president on down to politicians from both parties, elected officials have seized on the politics of a replacement. They have no decency, let alone statesmanship. Disgusting!

Greg Young; Point Pleasant, N.J.

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Obama has every right to make an appointment to replace Scalia. We all know that ideologically, this nominee will be the polar opposite of Scalia. The Senate also has every right to reject every nominee that Obama selects. The nation cannot afford to allow an Obama nominee onto the Supreme Court.

— Blake McDaniel

Republicans should wait and see who is nominated before slamming the door shut. It’s gross how the issue instantly is turned into politics. Sadly, the country has become so partisan.

— Steve Belli

We asked what our followers thought about Republicans suggesting they won’t consider an Obama nominee to the Supreme Court. Comments from Twitter are edited for clarity and grammar:

It shows that they have little regard for the people and the justice system.

— @RedhawkJ0e

Let’s have the people elect a president. That president should appoint the next justice. Do Dems doubt they can take control of Senate?

— @JackCade37

Obama should nominate a true centrist instead of a left-leaning person.

— @phxpianotuner

It is the price Obama should pay for denigrating opposition and ignoring Congress.

— @alternativeRNC

Republicans refusing to consider an Obama nominee is petty politics and childish.

— @mnoormo1

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion or #tellusatoday.