After much speculation, President Bush is coming close to naming his nominee for the vacancy in the nation's high court. Every single person in Washington, D.C., and most people across America have an opinion about who should step into Sandra Day O'Connor's soon-to-be-empty seat. However, the only opinions that matter are that of Bush and 100 senators. The 102 people involved -- the president, senators and the nominee -- have the ability to help heal old wounds in this great country. Bush, who since his 2001 inauguration has wanted to be a "uniter not a divider," now faces the perfect opportunity to do what he said all those years ago.
Bush has finally requested consultation with the top leaders of both sides of the aisle in the Senate about his nomination. With this unified consultation, the country might get what it needs: a unanimous vote for the Supreme Court nominee. The country needs to know that those we elect into office can agree on something. With the political battles of the past decade, the country needs to see a united government.
However, that has rarely been the case in the Bush administration and the 108th Congress. Partisan politics and bashing have been rampant over the years. The executive, legislative and judicial branches must unite to help reverse nationwide apathetic feelings the public has toward the government.
With public interest in government resting on life support, the United States can not survive another debacle like the Clarence Thomas nomination. Thomas was barely confirmed by the Senate, with a 52-48 vote. Even ultra-conservative Antonin Scalia and liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg had either unanimous or near-unanimous confirmations.
Whoever Bush does nominate, it will more than likely be a conservative. However, even Scalia had a unanimous vote. The controversy surrounding Thomas' confirmation hearings hurt the nation more than most people realize. With the charges of sexual misconduct by Professor Anita Hill, Thomas' credibility and worthiness of holding a seat on the most sacred and lawful institution in the nation came into question. America does not need another Clarence Thomas. America needs another Sandra Day O'Connor.
Laura Bush has even brought forth her opinion on the subject, saying she hopes the president will nominate a woman. Whether it is a woman or another white male is the least of my concerns.
O'Connor stood up to what she thought was right in the eyes of the law; she did not give in to political pressure. Her independent thinking kept the court in balance for nearly two decades. With the loss of a great American, the high court and this nation need another courageous man or woman to fill the huge void left by the greatest woman ever to serve the United States.
Bush holds in his hands the ability to help unite this divided land. While he can never repair the damage he caused, in the eyes of my fellow Democrats, he can certainly slow down the growth of that wound. I, for one, cannot tell the president what to do or say or how to act. However, I suggest to the president that he select a courageous model citizen who has free will.
I suggest this not as a Democrat scared of a Republican-controlled Supreme Court, but as an American scared of a torn America.
Write to Matthew at
mlstephenson@bsu.edu
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