As President Donald J. Trump was racking up his third nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize on Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) refused to meet with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett.

What a pity that Senator Schumer couldn't have his way, resorting to throwing a tantrum instead.

Schumer wasn't alone. Several senators, including Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) and Maize Hirono (D-Hawaii), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee that will vet Judge Barrett's nomination, have refused to meet with the nominee as well. Isn't that special?

The Senators use a smokescreen to justify their decisions to boycott Judge Barrett. They say the nomination is "illegitimate" and falsely claim that the nominee has stated her desire to overturn the Affordable Care Act – a.k.a. "Obamacare" – and that she is intent on overturning Roe v. Wade.

The reality is that the Democrats are sore that President Trump has refused to acquiesce to their demands to put off making a nomination to the high court until after the November election. Too bad. As fellow Democrat and former President Barack Obama stated, "Elections have consequences." Yes, they do.

Man up, Chuck, and do your job.

I believe that our officials in Washington need to do the job they were sent there to do, and that includes interviewing judicial nominees. Would you support withholding their pay when they fail to perform as they should? I might.

Trump won the election in 2016, and voters gave his party control of the Senate in 2016 and again in 2018. It sounds to me as if they have spoken volumes. Article II of the U.S. Constitution says it is the responsibility of the president to nominate a replacement to the Supreme Court when a vacancy arises. Trump is following the law.

The people have grown weary of these childish antics and are demanding a functioning government. Schumer and company need to suck it up and move on.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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