CHICAGO - Illinois' junior U.S. Senator Mark Kirk wants President Obama to nominate a successor to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and he calls on his Senate colleagues to fulfill their constitutional duties by holding hearings to advise and consent.
Kirk's "above the partisan fray" op-ed in Monday's Chicago Sun-Times challenges his Senate Republican leadership, who said immediately after Scalia's sudden death that they would not hold hearings if the president nominated a successor. Republican leadership argues to deal with such crucial appointments during an election year is not standard protocol.
Despite their position, Kirk encouraged the president to nominate someone that can find "common ground":
My sincerest hope is that President Obama nominates someone who captures the sentiment he spoke about before the Illinois General Assembly this month — a nominee who can bridge differences, a nominee who finds common ground and a nominee who does not speak or act in the extreme.
Such a selection by the president would demonstrate a break from the rancor and partisanship of Washington and a real commitment to a new beginning even as his own term nears its end.
James Marter, who is challenging Kirk in the March 15th GOP primary, agrees with Republican leadership and says the nomination process should be delayed until a newly-elected president is able to present his or her choice to fill the vacancy.
Marter said in a statement Tuesday that Senator Kirk continues to lose support across the state.
"While on the campaign trail voters have responded with gratitude that anyone is willing to run against Republican Senate incumbent Mark Kirk," Marter said. "Some have suggested they would vote for 'Mickey Mouse' or 'a cup of coffee' before voting for Mark Kirk.
"Fortunately for them they do not have to vote for an inanimate object or a Disney character. Kirk, who some have suggested should change the parenthetical letter after his name to a 'D', has a challenger – James Marter."
Kirk has not agreed to a spontaneous face-to-face debate with Marter before the March 15th GOP primary.
