To the Editor:
In a March 2016 interview with NPR, Sen. Collins was quoted as saying, “I believe that the best outcome from the Senate, whether we’re dealing with nominees or treaties or legislation, come about when we follow the regular order.” The recent behavior from Democratic Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris has been anything but the regular order.
Sen. Booker broke Senate rules by releasing committee confidential documents just for a selfish “Spartacus moment.” Meanwhile, Sen. Kamala Harris insinuated that Supreme Court Justice Nominee Brett Kavanaugh was a white supremacist because he used the term “racial spoils system” in an op-ed 20 years ago.
Judge Kavanaugh is not a white supremacist. Similarly, Sen. Collins is not going to vote for a supreme court nominee who doesn’t respect established precedent or isn’t qualified for the job. And she won’t respond to bribes or extreme tactics, despite the vulgar threats said against her.
Kavanaugh is well-qualified and respects precedent and the rule of law. At his confirmation hearing last Tuesday, Kavanaugh said this: “A judge must interpret statutes as written. A judge must interpret the Constitution as written, informed by history and tradition and precedent.” This would include Roe v. Wade, the crux of the attacks on Sen. Collins.
Sen. Collins voted yay for Sonia Sotomayor and yay for Elena Kagan, both Obama appointees. She’s not going to vote for or against Brett Kavanaugh for his right-leaning views. She’s going to vote for him because it’s the right thing to do.
Blake Winslow
Presque Isle
