Staff Reports
Calls for Dianne Feinstein’s resignation have been increasing within the Democratic party, but not everyone is on board with this idea. While Feinstein has been out of commission due to shingles and complications since March, her fellow Democrats are experiencing anxiety over the vacancy in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for the confirmation of judicial nominees. To quell this anxiety, Feinstein has asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to name her replacement on the committee. However, not everyone is happy with this idea.
Finally, Lindsey Graham is good for something.
I expect our "Republican" Senators to find the Democrats over the Marxist judges Schumer attempts to jam through confirmation hearings.https://t.co/F8EnKcG2d6
— Daniel F. Baranowski (@DFBHarvard) April 19, 2023
Senator Joe Manchin believes that calling for Feinstein’s resignation is ridiculous, and he refuses to support her replacement on the committee. Manchin has a history of siding with Republicans on legislation and nominees, including being “non-committal” on Julie Su, nominee for Secretary of Labor.
Karine Jean-Pierre on the possible retirement of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein:
"This a decision for her to make when it comes to her future. That is something that she gets to make and should be allowed to do that." pic.twitter.com/HJPs2vEeTO
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 18, 2023
Joe Manchin says he wouldn't support replacing Feinstein on Senate Judiciary and says of Ds calling for her resignation: "That's ridiculous. She was elected. She served admirably… We've had other members gone for a year or more at times and no one called for their resignation"
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 18, 2023
The left doesn’t know how to define a woman, but they sure know how to discriminate against one.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) April 18, 2023
The same Senate Dems who smeared Justice Kavanaugh with outrageous lies want Republicans to help confirm radical liberal nominees?
No chance.
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) April 18, 2023
Schumer says he would replace Feinstein with Ben Cardin on committee. Says he will try to set up a vote on the floor this afternoon, but Rs will block a vote. Asked him if Feinstein should consider resigning if she can’t return by May, he said she told him she would return “soon”
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 18, 2023
Leader Schumer’s resolution on this matter was not supported by Republicans, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Tom Cotton, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Blackburn criticized the left for attempting to discriminate against a woman, referencing her exchange with Justice Kentaji Brown Jackson during her confirmation hearing.
According to a Monday night report, Senators Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, John Cornyn, Thom Tillis, and Joni Ernst are also opposed to replacing Feinstein. Even members within the Democratic party such as Reps. Ro Khanna and Dean Phillips have called for Feinstein’s resignation.
Schumer’s latest solution is to replace Feinstein with Sen. Ben Cardin, but it remains unclear if this will receive the necessary 60 votes needed. Meanwhile, the Senate Minority Mitch McConnell indicated that Senate Republicans will not aid Democrats in their efforts to remove one of their own temporarily.
It’s time for Democrats to stop attacking their own colleagues for arbitrary reasons and start working together to make progress. Continuing to purge those who may be temporarily unavailable will only make it harder for the party to achieve their goals.
