Letter to the editor: Why the Republican rush to replace Ginsburg?

It appears to me that the unseemly rush to appoint a Supreme Court justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg makes it apparent that the Republican leadership has no confidence that President Trump is going to be reelected, and that there may even be a loss of Republican seats in both the Senate and House.

Sen. Mitch McConnell seems to have no inclination to work on a coronavirus relief bill in spite of Democrats lowering their proposals. Yet he wants to push a vote immediately prior to the election for a Supreme Court judge.

This contrast in what McConnell deems as important to our country is rather insulting to the millions of laid-off Americans.

If the Republican leadership was confident of Trump’s reelection and the Senate retaining a Republican majority, they could proceed with respect and decorum to Ginsburg’s passing and schedule a Senate vote after the election, when measured and thoughtful debates over candidates could proceed in a more timely fashion.

But the Trump presidency hasn’t been notable for respect and decorum — or even honesty. I would remind my Republican neighbors that their vote makes them responsible for the person in the White House, and that time always seems to bring out the truth in politics.

I am old enough to have voted in the 1972 presidential election between George McGovern and Richard Nixon. Within five years of that election, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone proud of their vote for Nixon.

Thomas Nacey Jr.

Salem