Letter to the Editor:

There was a time that, whether you were Democrat or Republican, Chuck Grassley had your respect. Now Grassley is firmly tromping on the Constitution he took an oath to support. Contrary to the Constitution, he will deny the President his constitutional obligation to present a Supreme Court nominee to the Senate. Contrary to the Constitution, he will deny the Senate their constitutional obligation to advise and consent. His reasons were, at first, that there had been a precedent for this action and that some Democrats had recommended it in the past. However, when the Kennedy nomination disproved his first reason and when the Democrats’ words never translated into any action to deny a hearing, he then came up with the reason that waiting for the next election would let the people decide. Well, last check, the President and Grassley and the Senate ARE the voice of the people as determined in the last election. Grassley has turned into a partisan and an obstructionist.

Why? It’s hard to know. However, he has been intimidated in the past by the extremist Tea Party people elected recently. He is in good company – nobody was anxious to take the job as Republican head of the House.

Whatever the reason, Grassley has also held 14 justices in limbo, refusing to act on their nomination. Even conservative Chief Justice Roberts has complained about the growing backlog. Grassley has paralyzed the judiciary committee that he heads. Also, of as much concern is Grassley’s recent vote joining other Republican senators and one Democrat to keep in place the policies that encourage companies to take American jobs overseas.

Regardless of your political bent, it is difficult to watch a leader succumb to partisanship.

Anne Michael

Tama