Sure, we can't DIRECTLY choose. But what the Republicans here are talking about is the fact that the executive and legislative branches we DO elect are the ones who get to decide this sort of thing. The executive branch (here, Obama) gets to nominate, and the legislative branch (here, the Republicans) get to confirm or SEVERELY hinder the process all they want, it's the way it's written into the constitution. They're not blatantly abusing the spirit of the country or anything here; this is almost expressly the way it was meant to be when the Constitution was built: the executive check against the judicial branch (slash legislative branch) is the presidential nomination, and the LEGISLATIVE check against the judicial branch (slash executive branch) is the confirmation here. The government was entirely intended to have this sort of contention with this sort of thing, so that neither branch could use the judicial branch to dominate. It's basically Just As Planned, wiiith the note that the Founders entirely misjudged the power of the Supreme Court -- they thought it was going to be weak and worthless until John Marshall strode in and started kicking ass.
Ultimately, the executive branch can't entirely choose matters -- sure Obama can nominate, but Congress has been given by the very design of the country the ability to BS it up until the election, and the legislative can't choose because they're not capable of nominating. It can and possibly will be made into a stalemate where voters end up deciding which party gets to nominate their candidate by deciding the future executive and legislative branches; obviously, the Republicans are confident it will be a Republican up there nominating. You can
say it isn't the right of the people to choose the political slant of the new Justice, but when you look at the reality of the situation... it kind of is.
Heck, even the
I hope undecideds have had at least basic elementary civics lessons and not buy into the "Yeah, it's our right to choose!" illusion.
proves my point here -- if the voters WEREN'T in some degree deciding matters, why would it matter what the undecideds think?