The death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia brought to surface the hypocritical behavior some Republican politicians possess. The 2016 Republican candidates claim they want to abide by the constitution until a situation surfaces in which doing so could negatively affect them and their party’s ideological beliefs. The Constitution states the appointing of a new Supreme Court Justice is a role the current president possesses. However, it is most logical to the Republican running mates that the appointment wait until there is a new president.

Marco Rubio, a Republican candidate, stated his stance on the subject. “I do not believe the president should appoint someone. It’s not unprecedented in fact, it’s been over 80 years since a lame duck president has appointed a Supreme Court Justice.” The current president must fulfill his duty while still in office. However, Republican candidates argue that this power should not be carried out in order to possibly benefit them. In 2008, President George Bush signed a Status of Forced Agreement with Iraq which stated that the U.S be withdrawn by 2012; however, Barack Obama took office just a month later. President Obama’s powers last until January 2017, not until there is a task to accomplish that Republicans think they can handle better. If you don’t allow the president to make this vital decision solely based on the fact that he is in his last year of office, does this mean that he isn’t allowed to fulfill his other duties as president for the next 10 months? The Republican’s desire to delay the appointing of a new supreme justice is based solely on their selfish desires in which they believe picking the next judge could positively affect them. Let’s let the president do his job.