Democratic lawmakers’ response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s destruction of reproductive rights for the nation has been, let’s say less than urgent. Less than cognizant of the absolute earthquake that just rocked us. Less than aware that we are all looking to them to DO. SOMETHING.
Start with canceling recess. Start with acknowledging that the nation is on fire and that it is their job to start putting the fire out. Recognize that that is what we elected them to do in 2018 and 2020. Show us that they understand that we put our faith in them to do this job. We’re paying them to do it. It is their responsibility.
Then act. Don’t just hold hearings on how awful it is that we just witnessed the end of federal protections for abortion rights. Put legislation on the floor to codify abortion rights and put everyone on the record. Take Justice Clarence Thomas at his word and put legislation on the floor to codify our right to birth control, and put every Republican on the record on that. Put legislation on the floor to codify protections for same-sex relationships and marriages, and put every lawmaker on record on that. Put legislation on the floor to codify the right to interracial marriages, and make every Republican vote on that.
End the filibuster. Don’t let Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema and Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski off the hook. They all voted once already this Congress to carve out a filibuster exception for raising the debt ceiling. Make them do the same to preserve abortion rights.
Fix the Supreme Court. Nothing this Congress could do to protect our rights will stand as long as the Supreme Court as it is currently constructed stands. Address that fact.
Address the fact that every one of the extremist judges who did this lied to Congress in their confirmation hearings and that we all know that. Show there will be consequences for those lies, including reforms that could end their lifetime tenure on that Court. Including adding justices to dilute their toxic influence. Including imposing a code of ethics that every other federal judge is supposed to adhere to. Including constraining their power legislatively.
While you’re at it, start impeach proceedings—and investigations--against Clarence Thomas. Because there’s every likelihood that he’s as much an insurrectionist as his wife and a danger to the republic.
Most of all, wake the fuck up and recognize that this is war.
This. Is. War. Republicans declared it decades ago, and too many Democrats not only didn’t acknowledge that—they didn’t even recognize it.
We, the base of loyal progressives and Democrats will continue to fight and will continue to vote and get out the vote and donate and every other thing. But if you’re going to get more people than just us to do all that, you’ve got to show that you deserve it.
Prove that you deserve it.
Sign and send the petition to Congress: Enact federal abortion protections
