The final chapter of the dramatic and historic 2016 election came to a close today. After weeks of wrangling and political grandstanding by the Democrats, the Senate finally confirmed President Trump’s nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, to the Supreme Court, filling the seat left vacant last year by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. An outstanding pick, Gorsuch is likely to be in the Supreme Court for decades. It’s a victory that should be celebrated by all, to be sure, but its grassroots activists who deserve credit for it, not elites.
Gorsuch’s confirmation is cause for celebration. It’s a jewel in the crown of achievements won by grassroots activism. In the heat of last year’s election, grassroots activists faced scathing criticism for opposing Judge Merrick Garland, then-President Barack Obama’s nomination.
From the Left, they were accused of shutting down the Supreme Court. Nevermind that the Supreme Court continued to operate, never mind that President Obama couldn’t get approval from the Senate—the Left believed grassroots was wrongfully blocking a pick that was rightfully Obama’s. Senate Democrats continued this criticism well into Gorsuch’s hearings, never failing to mention how they wanted to be questioning Garland.
From the Right, activists faced criticism from those who were certain that Hillary Clinton would win and that Garland was the best we could get. Grassroots conservatives were cast as starry-eyed ideologues who didn’t recognize the political realities right in front of their faces. The elites were ready, as always, to fold in the name of good strategy.
In spite of this double-edged opposition, conservative grassroots boldly pushed for a true constitutionalist and an originalist. Before Gorsuch’s nomination, FreedomWorks activists alone made nearly 1.7 million contacts to Senate offices.
In the face of pollsters and talking heads, grassroots activists refused to settle for another liberal justice appointed by Obama and fought instead for a truly great justice. They did not rest until their voices were heard. And they beat expectations and helped appoint a Supreme Court justice who will change the course of our country.
Gorsuch’s confirmation represents the final victory of the 2016 election cycle, but it is also the culmination of nearly six years of hard work from activists. Conservatives helped Republicans take back the House in 2010, the Senate in 2014 and the White House in 2016 on the understanding that federal leadership would appoint judges who embraced the Constitution and understood the limited power of the Supreme Court outlined inside it when the opportunity arose.
Accordingly, after the death of Scalia, candidate Trump promised to pick the best, most qualified candidate, and Trump delivered on that promise as president. The Senate stood up against the Democrats’ blatantly partisan and obstructionist tactics to push for confirmation. Their success and Gorsuch’s confirmation marks the definitive conclusion of this chapter on the 2016.
Adam Brandon (@adam_brandon) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. He is president and CEO of FreedomWorks.
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