Monday’s groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling that workers cannot be fired for being transgender or gay was a surprise to many social conservatives for one reason: The majority opinion was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch.
In the eyes of Republicans, Gorsuch was one of the first successes of the Trump administration. The death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016 meant the outcome of that November’s presidential election would be more important than ever. No matter what, either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would be appointing at least one individual to the highest court in the land. Conservatives wanted to make sure the court balance remained the same. If any Republican voter was initially reluctant to support Trump, their fears were eased by the assurance of a forthcoming Supreme Court appointment.
As expected, some conservatives are frustrated with the ruling, including Gorsuch’s involvement. In fact, some may feel betrayed. But while the outcome and Gorsuch’s authorship doesn’t please them, it certainly won’t dampen their interest in voting to reelect Trump this fall despite the Democratic Party’s wishes. There are plenty of questions concerning how this new Title VII decision will affect religious liberty in the future. However, they aren’t enough to deflect any meaningful support into the waiting arms of former Vice President Joe Biden. Apart from the Supreme Court considerations exist a vast number of reasons the GOP will continue to support the president, regardless of how Gorsuch may have greatly disappointed some in the party.
It goes without saying that the justices appointed by a president are entirely separate from the president himself. Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush, has joined the left-leaning justices so often that conservatives have lost faith in him. On the other hand, Justice Samuel Alito, also a Bush appointee, is one of the most conservative members of the high court. How a justice decides is not necessarily a reflection of the president who selects them. But while legal outcomes are important to the GOP, Trump administration victories away from the bench matter more to the average voter.
Those in the Republican Party who have supported the president are still pleased with his first-term accomplishments. Most of all, Republicans know that despite any disappointment with Trump, a Biden presidency would do nothing to fulfill their conservative desires.
At The Week, author Damon Linker wrote, “Neil Gorsuch fired a torpedo at President Trump’s re-election campaign.” Regarding social and religious conservatives, he wrote, “The Trump campaign needs to anticipate these voters are now far more likely to sit this one out.”
This comes across as nothing but wishful thinking.
The Supreme Court decision and Gorsuch’s involvement may sting for now, but voters on the Right are far more interested in the country’s current crises. Not only are we still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, but societal unrest and racial tensions are at an all-time high. The desire for a “law and order” president who supports the nation’s law enforcement outweighs specially designated legal concerns. Additionally, Republicans view the administration’s pandemic response as appropriate and the Left’s reaction to it as continuously hypocritical. A disappointing mid-June decision by Trump’s first nominee to the Supreme Court will fade into the background long before Election Day.
If there is anything the Democratic Party and its supporters should expect, it’s that Trump’s overwhelming support within the Republican Party is a guarantee. GOP voters may be discouraged by some of what they see, but in their minds, the Biden alternative is far worse than the status quo.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
