I have been following the Amy Coney Barrett nomination process, and I believe that Amy Coney Barrett should step down.
Why?
Amy Coney Barrett is evidently a good student. She appears to be a good mother, and it seems like she grew up with a relatively privileged upbringing. I say "relatively" since she's the eldest of seven children, and as the oldest in a family of six children, I know both the joys and challenges life in large families can bring.
To be nominated by such an errant, self-serving President, the kind of President who would put your children and colleagues in danger at a White House superspreader event, and a President who uses you as a pawn for his own despicable political ambition is not an honor and will always connect Barrett with what many see as an illegitmate political process. To truly be an honorable candidate for the Supreme Court, the process should be fair and just--not rushed and political. The smart thing for Barrett to do is to step down and tell the Senate that she is not interested in the position at this time.
When stepping back, I think Barrett should go home, continue teaching at Notre Dame, and begin a deeper study about all the challenges she's heard during the nomination process. I think she should think deeply about the world now and the world we are building as a people including topics such as health care, individual rights, the environment, and the ways we can reimagine the court and government to better serve people in the modern age.
It may sound silly, but a long time ago, I was offered a position that I was not well-qualified for, a position that was offered for the wrong reasons. I said, no, as I knew it wasn't the right choice for me or the organization given the factors involved.
Amy Coney Barrett has a great opportunity to be an American hero at this time by stepping down and ending the nomination process as an act of fairness--a just act that supports the people rather than the self-serving, manipulative Republicans who are pushing this nomination ahead.
She could say,
I am honored to be nominated, but I worry about a rushed process that seems motivated by political ambition rather than the goal of building a strong, diverse, and equitable Supreme Court. As a well-educated, successful white woman of privilege, I know that if I were to continue this process now, my entire service would be coupled with a self-serving Republican team that does not put the critical needs of people first, and instead are mired in political ambition that promotes their personal wealth, power, privilege, and pleasure. This was so evident in the superspreader event they planned to celebrate my nomination--an event that sickened Notre Dame President as well as others, and an event that put my own children's lives in danger. Also looking at the racial strife in the United States today, and acknowledging my tremendous privilege as a well educated, white woman, I do think it is time to diversity the Supreme Court more with people who exemplify greater diversity of life experiences. At this time, and for these reasons, I'm stepping down from the Supreme Court nomination process and will return to my home, my family, and my work as a Professor. I want to give greater attention to the many topics that arose during this nomination process and I advocate for a process that picks up in the new year after the election process is complete and the pandemic is managed well. Thank you.
You can do this, Amy!