During the VP Debate held in Salt Lake City, Utah last week, US Sen. Kamala Harris told many mistruths, otherwise called lies, but this was one of the biggest I believe. VP Mike Pence pressed US Sen. Kamala Harris whether she and former VP Joe Biden were going to pack the court if Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed?
During the VP Debate held in Salt Lake City, Utah last week, US Sen. Kamala Harris told many mistruths, otherwise called lies, but this was one of the biggest I believe. VP Mike Pence pressed US Sen. Kamala Harris whether she and former VP Joe Biden were going to pack the court if Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed?
Harris refused to answer, Joe Biden also refused to answer the question, whether she and Joe Biden would pack the Supreme court and instead tried to make the argument that in October of 1864, President Lincoln would not choose a nominee to replace Chief Justice Roger Taney, who had died in October 1864, just prior to the November 1864 general election.
She said President Lincoln would not nominate a chief justice with a national election approaching in the midst of the Civil War. Kamala Harris said, “Honest Abe said, ‘It’s not the right thing to do.’”
Lincoln said no such thing. He sent no nominee to the Senate in October 1864, because the Senate was out of session until December. He sent a nominee, December 6th, the day after the session began, and Salmon P. Chase was confirmed the same day.
Lincoln wanted to dangle the nomination before Chase and several other potential candidates because he wanted them to campaign for him. Lincoln’s priority was winning the election, which was necessary to win the war. He filled the vacancy at the fist possible instant.
It’s interesting to note that Salmon P. Chase also ran for the Republican Presidential nomination in 1860 but lost the nomination to Abraham Lincoln.
To purposely distort history and misrepresent a beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, in order to promote and dishonestly substantiate a political goal is reprehensible. She wants to lead our nation; I don’t think so.
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Steve Yoder is a resident of Wailua Homesteads
