Why Veterans Support Hearings and a Vote on Garland Nomination

"When we join the ranks of the military, every enlistee has to take the same oath, similar to the one all elected officials take:

“I, [NAME], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
For many of us, we believe the first part of this oath — supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States — extends to even after we take off the uniform.

It’s a serious matter, then, when we see the United States Senate refusing to hold hearings or a vote on Judge Merrick Garland to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. The Senate can certainly vote down the nomination. But, the Constitution makes very clear which governmental body is responsible for hearing a nomination — and that’s the Senate.

We could maybe — maybe — understand the unwillingness to do as the Constitution intended, if Judge Garland was controversial. But he isn’t.

One of us, as a U.S. Senator almost twenty years ago, had the privilege of voting to confirm Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the D.C. Circuit Court, along with 75 other senators, including a number of Republicans.

We did so because he is a man of honor.

Now that President Obama has nominated Judge Garland to serve on the Supreme Court, the U.S. Senate should give Judge Garland an up or down vote."