The withdrawal of Gigi Sohn‘s nomination to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been hailed as a major victory for Republicans and a strong reminder of the importance of bipartisanship.
The Biden administration had nominated Sohn in October 2021, but the nomination was met with opposition from both sides of the aisle, as well as from cable and media industry lobbyists.
Sohn had been one of the chief architects of net neutrality under the Obama administration, a policy which was reversed by the free-market types who ran the FCC under former President Donald Trump. This record, and her social media posts, made it difficult for the Senate to hold a floor vote on her confirmation.
Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he could not support Sohn’s nomination because her record demonstrated her inability to steer the agency in a non-partisan direction.
“Especially now, the FCC must remain above the toxic partisanship that Americans are sick and tired of, and Ms. Sohn has clearly shown she is not the person to do that,” Manchin said.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called the withdrawal of Sohn’s nomination “a major victory [that] represents a strong bipartisan agreement that we need a fair and impartial candidate who can receive the support needed for confirmation.”
“The FCC is not the place for partisan activists; free speech is too important,” Cruz said.
The White House said Sohn “would have brought tremendous intellect and experience, which is why the president nominated her in the first place.”
However, the reality is that without Sohn’s nomination, the FCC is left without a tie-breaking vote, meaning it cannot green-light any regulatory rules that do not have bipartisan support. This is a major victory for Republicans and an affirmation of their commitment to free-market policies.
It is also a reminder that bipartisanship is essential in politics. The American people are tired of the toxic partisanship that has been so pervasive in politics in recent years, and this decision is a reminder that bipartisanship is the only way to make progress on important issues.
The withdrawal of Sohn’s nomination demonstrates that Republicans and Democrats can come together to make decisions that are in the best interest of the American people. It is a reminder that when Republicans and Democrats can come together, good things can happen.
