Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020 | 2 a.m.
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Republicans badly miscalculated when they placed Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court. If and when Democrats win the presidency and achieve a majority in the Senate, they will feel compelled to expand the court. Had Republicans played nice and put off the choice until after the election, one more liberal justice on the court would still have left conservatives with a majority. More importantly, waiting would have taken the wind out of the sails of Democrats who urge court expansion.
Instead, Republicans have energized the court expansion movement. Democrats previously hesitant to go along will now see that they must either expand the court or allow the Republican Party to further suppress votes and disenfranchise voters.
To allow conservatives and their corporate cronies to consolidate power is undemocratic and unacceptable. The Democrats, their hands forced by this Republican display of anti-American behavior, will have little choice but to proceed with court expansion whenever they can, to show that the party has some spine and will do what it takes to preserve our democratic values.
Opponents call this “court packing,” but Americans see this court expansion as saving democracy.
