When the shoe was on the other judge’s foot
The editorial cartoon by David Hitch published in Saturday’s edition (WHT Sept. 8, page 4A) caricatures Democratic leaders and citizen protesters shouting down the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Indeed, what a stark contrast the Kavanaugh hearings present compared with the cordial, civil and dignified treatment the Republican-led Judiciary Committee gave to Merrick Garland when he was nominated in March 2016.
Oh, wait a minute: There were no protests or angry questioners because there were no hearings on the Garland nomination. For 293 days — the longest of any high court nominee in US history — they refused to do their constitutionally mandated duty and did not even give the eminently qualified chief judge of the Washington, D.C. Federal Appeals Court the courtesy of a single hearing, not to mention failing to allow a Senate vote on the nomination. In August 2016, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell bragged about these violations of his oath saying, “One of my proudest moments was when I looked Barack Obama in the eye and I said, ‘Mr. President, you will not fill the Supreme Court vacancy.’”
So pardon us if we do not share cartoonist Hitch’s outrage at the response to the Kavanaugh appointment. When those elected to govern are unable to or fail to fulfill their responsibilities, the people must raise their voices in order to be heard.
Alan Silverman
Kailua-Kona
President has it all backward
Which part of this situation does the president (I’m not calling him our or my president) not understand? The First Amendment (could be a reason why it is first?) clearly outlines that free speech/free expression can not be prohibited and that the press shall not be restricted. It guarantees other freedoms, too, but this part is pertinent to what the president is trying to do now: shut down the press and eliminate any speech that he doesn’t agree with.
Here’s what we have: A president who is trying to start an investigation into something that not only isn’t a crime, but is something the Constitution protects. Keep repeating this mantra: We are guaranteed freedom of speech and freedom of the press. It is the Constitution that is the ultimate law, not the president. And, he might also learn something if he’d look up the meaning of the word treason.
Phyllis Hanson
Kailua-Kona