There are basic psychological characteristics we as human beings share, although this is not always the case for everyone. Perhaps the most universal characteristic we share involves our conscience; the ability to discern right from wrong. A true sociopath like Donald Trump for example, is incapable of this and will not change. This is why it is dangerous to have someone like him as our president. For others, we make a choice pertaining to the actions we take on a consistent basis. Although there is a political component to this post, its emphasis is superseded by our choice to do what is right - or wrong. Our actions and attitudes lends to our overall character, or in other words – our integrity.
I had no doubt Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump had already handpicked Amy Coney Barrett well in advance of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. Statements McConnell made indicated he was waiting and excited about Ginsburg’s impending death, so he could stuff the court with another conservative justice. This mostly transpired after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few months ago prior to her death.
Although McConnell and Trump are no fans of each other; they are quite adept at joining together with the forces of evil to help reach their goals. Neither one cares much for the other, but they are more than happy to scratch each other’s back to get what they want. Reciprocity is expected, which is the sole core of their relationship. Such is the case here with the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. I would like to touch further on Barrett’s actions which makes me question her integrity.
Integrity Issue #1- Her Knowledge of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Dying Wish
I first called Barrett’s integrity into check early on after Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. My conclusion was independent of her ultra conservative political stances, nor had I ever heard of her before. I did not know have a clue how conservative she was until the media started expounding upon her nomination.
Justice Ginsburg had one request; one last wish on this earth before her death, and it was for her successor to be nominated after the election. Keep in mind; she did not know which candidate will win; Joe Biden or Donald Trump. She just knew it was right thing to do, but feared the Trump Administration’s would circumvent normal procedures. She was right.
Amy Coney Barrett knew of Ginsburg’s dying wish. It is not like she is a helpless child that has to be obedient to the whims of Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. She knew they had chosen her (in advance), and that was very unlikely to change. Yet, she fully embraced their plot to push her nomination through to the Supreme Court seat at the expense of Justice Ginsburg’s final request.
It goes without saying both the consciences of McConnell and Trump dried up a long time ago, so they would be completely indifferent to the request of a dying human being. So many American revered and respected Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I would have thought Amy Coney Barrett would had honored such a request from Ginsburg – but it was obviously meaningless and immaterial to her as well. I can only speculate she did not feel confident enough in her own qualifications to simply wait until after the election – or she simply did not care. I am inclined to believe it was the latter.
She became a knowing and willing participant in Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’s own “Operation Warp Speed” scheme. Donald Trump nominated her at the behest of McConnell; not realizing he is the Senate Majority Leader’s unwitting idiot to accomplish whatever he wants to get done. Trump did not know who Barrett was, like he does not know who the conservative federal judges are that he appoints – he is told who to pick by Fox News and Republican Senate. Barrett had already been assured of the Senate’s backing which goes without saying.
Barrett could had spoken up and said she rather would wait for the nomination process until after the election – after all, it would only be the right thing to do. At the very least, Trump would had been in office into mid January. She did not possess the decency to do that, or the proclivity to honor the last wishes of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. By the way, all the polls showed most Americans believe the right thing to do was to wait until after the election before nominating someone to the Supreme Court.
Integrity Issue #2 – Her Knowledge There Was Only Six Weeks to the Election
There is no way Amy Coney Barrett was not knowledgeable about the normal protocols and procedures to selecting a Supreme Court nominee. She surely knew the process should not commence this close to a presidential election. I cannot fathom for a minute she did not see the video of Mitch McConnell castrating the nomination process for President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. At that time, it was a full 8 months before the next election, when Mitch McConnell said the following: “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president."
Mitch McConnell is a repugnant hypocrite! Instead, he is now rushing a Supreme Court nominee after Ginsburg’s death with less than 3 weeks to the election. Mitch McConnell is absolutely shameless and his word is meaningless. If you are voting for Mitch McConnell in Kentucky you should know he is a liar and a con – he will always put his agenda first over anyone or anything. In many ways, he is just like Trump. His is morally bankrupt, and in truth is an evil man solely on a quest for political power. By the way, have you seen the video of McConnell laughing in the face of Amy McGrath during the last debate? I suggest you watch it.
Only six weeks after Ruth Bader Ginsburg death, McConnell and Trump are rushing the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett through the Senate. Do you seriously think Barrett was not privy to what Mitch McConnell said regarding Merrick Garland’s nomination? Do you seriously think she has not seen the video of Lindsey Graham taken the same hypocritical stance McConnell did? Yet Amy Coney Barrett has wholeheartedly joined in their collusion. This is not integrity by any shape of the word.
Integrity Issue #3 – The American People Expressed Their Desire to Wait Until After the Election
Since Justice Ginsburg’s death, there have been a good number of polls; all of them reflecting most Americans felt the Supreme Court nomination should be on hold until after the election. Nevertheless, a prideful Mitch McConnell and a woefully ignorant Donald Trump rushed to get the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett through. Don’t think for a moment Trump understands the legal ramifications of this, because he does not understand issues of governance or have the faculties to process them. McConnell and Barrett do, however; and they made the choice to give the bird to the American people to gratify their own self-interest.
Integrity Issue #4 – The White House Rose Garden Ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett
Out of all of the integrity issues with Barrett, this one hits me the hardest. As you likely know by now, the White House Rose Garden ceremony for Amy Coney Barrett resulted in a super spreader event of the coronavirus. Most everyone did not wear a mask (including Barrett and Trump) and there was no social distancing or effort to do so. This ceremony was extremely negligent and should never have happened in the midst of a deadly pandemic. Everyone in attendance thumbed their nose at Covid-19, and like many self-centered, self-absorbed Americans, did not give a rip if anyone else became infected.
That includes Amy Coney Barrett. She could have said she preferred there be no ceremony at this time, because such a gathering could result in a potential Covid outbreak. Not only she cared less about this, she had the coronavirus back in the summer and knew it would be very unlikely for her to catch it again. I guess in her mind, as long as she deemed herself safe, it was all that mattered. How else can you explain her indifference to the fact this crowd could spawn an outbreak, and wow, did it ever! Chris Christie is truly lucky to be alive, and over 27 other individuals in attendance contracted Covid-19. This spectacle was absolutely shameless and epitomizes selfishness and recklessness on a whole new level.
Integrity Issue #5– Barrett Refuses to Recues Herself if the Supreme Court has to Decide Election Results
No surprise on this one, other than the fact she finally decided to answer a question for a change during the Senate hearings. If Donald Trump loses the election, everyone now knows he will not accept the results. Trump, his administration, the Republican Senate, William Barr and other members of the Republican Party have already laid the groundwork to contest the election results.
From casting suspicion on mail in ballots, to setting up unofficial decoy drop off boxes in California, they have left no stone unturned. They have even removed many legitimate ballet boxes in areas heavily Democrat; leaving the area with only one drop-off box, get this - per county. That is outrageous, malicious, and wicked – it is an effort to stymie the votes of millions of Americans. The stage is set. Amy Coney Barrett has given Trump clear indication she has his back, and make no mistake, Donald Trump expects nothing less.
So, I draw my conclusions about Amy Coney Barrett’s lack of integrity based on her actions being nominated to the Supreme Court. Her willingness to go along with Mitch McConnell and the Trump Administration’s unfair and atypical nomination process speaks for itself. Her disregard to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dying wish leads me to conclude she, like McConnell and Trump is all about their self interest, and not doing what is just. A person with integrity would not be a willing participant in such an unfair and deceptive process.
Consider the late Senator John McCain and the stand he took against the unprecedented actions to appeal the Affordable Care Act. He was not for the ACA by any means, but he was vehemently against how McConnell and Trump breached Senate protocols prior to the vote taken on the floor. He knew it was morally wrong and grossly unfair, not only to the democrats, but to the integrity of traditional Senate process and customs. In the end, he took a stand and did the right thing – Amy Coney Barrett chose not to. Like Judge Judith Schienlin often says, “Now I know who I am dealing with.”
