Senate Democrats should publicly state that they will vote to approve Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. They must accept that Judge Gorsuch will likely be approved even if most Democrats oppose him. 

In exchange for their votes for Judge Gorsuch, the Democrats should demand that Judge Merrick Garland be given an up-or-down vote to occupy the next vacant seat on the court. He has been fairly nominated for the position and that nomination hasn’t been withdrawn. 

By agreeing to compromise, Democrats demonstrate they play fair and don’t stoop to the winner-takes-all, ends-justify-the-means tricks that undermine faith in our institutions. A balance between conservative and progressive justices on the Supreme Court is desirable if it gives Republicans and Democrats confidence that both their views are represented. 

Republicans’ refusal to accept this proposal would redound to their disadvantage as it would make them look highly partisan and rigid. Also, if the Republicans were to agree, and then refused later to hold a vote for Judge Garland, that may make them look even worse. 

David Klein

Mystic