Whereas, the American people have a right to expect their Senators to do the job
they were sent to the Senate to do;
Whereas, the Constitution clearly places responsibility on the Senate in its "Advice
and Consent" role to vote on the President's nominees to the judiciary;
Whereas, basic fairness demands that every nominee - who has made a commitment -
in many cases a sacrifice - to serve our country and who has gone through an arduous
confirmation process - receive a final vote of the full Senate;
Whereas, the American people reject the politics of personal destruction and oppose
the "fear and smear" campaigns conducted by extremist groups against judicial nominees;
Whereas, the American people do not want the United States Senate bowing to the
demands of extremist groups to obstruct or deny a full vote to a nominee;
Therefore, I urge you as a United States Senator to pledge to do your duty, to oppose
the obstructionism, to denounce the "fear and smear" campaigns of extremist groups
against nominees, and recognize the right of every nominee sent to the full Senate
to receive an up or down vote.