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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Ashland pizza delivery driver robbed by three men ... Erickson takes on project to build power line towers in India ... Surveillance from Medford gun store shows quick smash and grab ... Ashland pizza delivery driver robbed by three men ... Erickson takes on project to build power line towers in India ... Surveillance from Medford gun store shows quick smash and grab ... OUR VIEW Our View: Senate leader shows contempt for Constitution Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Only hours after the first report of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's death Saturday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell demonstrated just how much regard he has for the Constitution. Of Scalia, McConnell said, "Through the sheer force of his intellect and his legendary wit, this giant of American jurisprudence almost singlehandedly revived an approach to constitutional interpretation that prioritized the text and original meaning‎ of the Constitution." The Republican leader then went on to say, "The American people‎ should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president." The American people, McConnell will recall, exercised their voice in 2012 when they re-elected President Barack Obama by a comfortable margin. And, according to the "original meaning" of the Constitution, the president is responsible for nominating people to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court. According to that same Constitution, the president is to do so with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. The Senate must confirm the nomination, and if it votes to reject a nominee, the president must nominate someone else. Nowhere in the Constitution is there any provision for delaying or suspending this process because a president is in his final year in office or because there is an election underway. Various Republicans, including most of the presidential candidates, have tried to find a "tradition" of not confirming Supreme Court nominees in an election year, but in fact no such tradition exists. The New York Times reports that, since 1900, the Senate has voted eight times on a nominee in an election year, confirming six, although several were nominated earlier. In 1988, Ronald Reagan's last year in office, the Democratic-controlled Senate voted unanimously to confirm Justice Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy was nominated after the Democrats blocked the nomination of Robert Bork the previous year. No one, certainly not Obama, expects the Republicans to automatically accept whoever he nominates to succeed Scalia. But they ought to hold hearings and take a vote. McConnell has vowed to do neither. No Supreme Court nominee in U.S. history has waited more than 125 days from the date of nomination for a confirmation vote. President Obama had 342 days left in his term when Scalia died. Senate Republicans are entitled to use their power to attempt to influence Obama's choice of nominee, and to reject anyone they don't like. What they shouldn't be allowed to do is to refuse to even go through the motions. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501