If a Republican Votes Against Sotomayor, Does it Make a Sound?

Republicans are so against the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court that even John McCain, a self-proclaimed maverick with plenty of Latino constituents, says he will vote against her. Thing is, there just aren’t enough Republicans in the Senate for party unity to make a difference.

The only achievement of the Republicans closing ranks against Sotomayor is that they may make this very mainstream, pro-corporate judge seem the slightest bit radical.

That would put pressure on President Obama to nominate someone less liberal the next time around.

AP via Google:

Just six Republicans have announced they’ll break with their party to vote for Sotomayor, while nearly three-quarters of GOP senators say they’ll oppose her. No Democrat has said she or he will oppose Sotomayor.

Some in the GOP have faced a tough call about how to vote on Obama’s nominee, torn between an impulse to please their conservative base by opposing her and a fear that doing so could alienate Hispanic voters. The vast majority are lining up with their core supporters against Sotomayor, despite her near certainty of confirmation.

Read more

Flickr / soggydan