Nominees: Senators are not just rubber stamps

(Editorial – Graphic Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)

With plenty of buzz surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s planned nominees for cabinet positions, it is understandable for opinions to form early.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice was right, then, to suggest the candidates named should be given a chance.

“He’s got to appoint the team that absolutely that he believes in,” soon-to-be U.S. Sen. Justice said. “We have to absolutely be fair about this, and we’ve got to give them time to get their feet underneath of them to do the job I know they’ll do.”

It’s impossible to miss that in the same breath he is asking people to be fair in their assumptions, Justice implies that he believes the nominees WILL end up doing the jobs for which they have not yet gone through confirmation hearings.

In fact, Justice went on to say “I am supportive of (Trump’s) choices because I have that level of faith in him. I’ll support all the choices and everything.”

That may be political theater. Surely members of the U.S. Senate understand it is their obligation to the American people to be not only fair but thorough in conducting hearings before they confirm (or not) a cabinet member. After all, the appointment of these agency heads is subject to the “advice and consent” of the U.S. Senate, according to our Constitution.

Senators have a duty to reject beneficiaries of the “spoils system” if playing spoiler appears to be a person’s only qualification for nomination. On the other hand, they have a responsibility to, as Justice pointed out, be fair and give each nominee a chance to speak on his or her own behalf during hearings and undergo formal background investigations by the FBI and the Office of Government Ethics.

Senators’ task during this process is to remain responsible and loyal to their country and its people. With only that in mind should senators make their decisions and cast their votes regarding these nominees.