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July 30, 2009
Once Again Democrats Are The Party Of Making Threats!
Dems warn GOP of backlash for opposing Sotomayor
The Senate debate over Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor turned bitter Wednesday, after Democrats warned the GOP it would pay a steep price for opposing the judge who would be the first Hispanic justice, and a top Republican charged they were playing destructive racial politics.
Majority Leader Harry Reid implored Republicans Wednesday to join Democrats in voting to confirm Sotomayor next week, warning that GOP opposition would bring the same sort of public backlash that followed the party's spirited opposition to measures that would have given some illegal immigrants a chance to gain legal status.
"I just think that their voting against this good woman is going to treat them about the same way that they got treated as a result of their votes on immigration," said Reid, D-Nev.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the head of his party's Senate campaign committee and a Sotomayor opponent, shot back that Reid and other Democrats were trying to exploit the nomination and "giving cover to groups and individuals to nurture racial grievances for political advantage."
"I don't think it influences people's votes, but what it does encourage is a very poisonous — indeed a very toxic — tone of destructive politics," Cornyn told The Associated Press. "They ought to be ashamed of themselves."
Reid's comments and the heated response they drew highlight the incendiary political dynamics surrounding next week's vote to confirm President Barack Obama's first high court nominee, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents who was raised in a South Bronx housing project and educated in the Ivy League before spending 17 years on the federal bench. There is little doubt that Sotomayor, 55, will be confirmed with majority Democrats backing her solidly and a handful of Republicans joining them.
The decision on how to vote on her confirmation was made more difficult in recent days for some Republicans and Democrats from conservative-leaning battleground states after the National Rifle Association, which has a loyal and politically active base of members, announced that a vote to confirm Sotomayor would count against senators in the group's annual candidate ratings. The NRA calls Sotomayor "hostile" to the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
Since the NRA's threat, no Republican or conservative Democrat has come out publicly to support Sotomayor.
Three Republicans, Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Bob Corker of Tennessee and Jim DeMint of South Carolina, announced Wednesday that they planned to vote "no."
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the Judiciary Committee chairman, said he was "disappointed" that more Republicans hadn't sided with him in support of Obama's nominee. His panel's vote Tuesday to send Sotomayor's nomination to the full Senate was nearly along party lines, with just one Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, breaking with the party to back her.
Reid and Leahy appeared at a Capitol Hill news conference with a crowd of activists representing civil rights, Hispanic and women's groups, among others who are enthusiastically backing Sotomayor.
"She knows the law. She knows how to apply the law. She understands the role of a judge. She understands the role of the courts. There is no mystery about this nominee," Leahy said. "Hers is a truly American story, and what a story, and what a model this is going to be for others in America."
Most Republicans, though, say they don't trust Sotomayor to keep her personal prejudices and opinions out of the courtroom. Burr said in a statement that the judge has "let her personal beliefs cloud her judgment."
DeMint said she "has not inspired confidence that she will consistently base her decisions on our Constitution and laws," citing in particular her stance on gun and abortion rights.
Wild Thing's comment........
Whenever there is a threat made is done by a democrat. I don't remember one single time the Republican party or a Republican politician has made a threat to the Democrats.
I am so sick of the left doing things and saying things like this and getting away with it.
What they put Clarence Thomas and also Bork, what they put them through was horrible and someone should bring that up to these freaks on the left. And there were no such threats by Reps about Dem opposition to Estrada .
Democrats had better be worried about the backlash they are going to get for all the leftist crap they’ve been pulling, including Sotomayor. I’m serious. Contempt for them is far too nice the word for what people who pay even the mildest attention are starting to feel. Average “Joe-sixpacks” are starting to get really mad. And these are folks who don’t watch what’s going on every day.
If God didnt want some hypocrites in the world, he wouldnt have made Democrats.
Posted by Wild Thing at July 30, 2009 06:49 AM
Comments
Jim Demint's a good man. The other Senator Lindsey Grahamnesty is another story. Supposedly, after the charade with the Amnesty Bill, he was done in South Caralina politics, as a Republican...This dim bulb got re elected in 08, so much for the grass roots having any effect on who runs for office. Power politics of the Rino Republicans saved the day for Graham.
Posted by: Mark at July 30, 2009 07:43 AM
Not only is she hostile to the Second Amendment but she is against any form of personal accountability and responsibility. By her own admission she is a liberal activist judge. and that is something we can do without. and I would match my Naval Career against her any day. we are only a few months apart in age. Lawyers and career sailors are, by definition, natural enemies.
Posted by: Glenn Cassel AMH1(AW) USN RET at July 30, 2009 08:37 AM
"(Dingy Harry Reid) warning that GOP opposition would bring the same sort of public backlash that followed the party's spirited opposition to measures that would have given some illegal immigrants a chance to gain legal status."
I say bring it on. The Hispandering immigration romantic fools like Graham are dwindling, and even some of the Wall Street Journal cheap labor greedheads have wised up. Sensible immigration restrictions and controls will be the winning issue for the next few decades.
Posted by: Curmudgeon at July 30, 2009 12:58 PM
"Reid and Leahy appeared at a Capital Hill news conference with a crowd of activists----". That is what the Democrats call their base. Activist groups wanting something from government without paying for it.
I agree with Mark. If Lindsey Graham can get reelected then the grassroots groups are noisey, but small.
Posted by: TomR at July 30, 2009 01:23 PM
Mark, I agree so much. That Lindsey Graham
cannot be trusted at all. He is more of a
dem then anything else and sooooo weak it
is a total turn off.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 30, 2009 07:21 PM
Glenn Cassel AMH1(AW) USN RET, when
they don't respect our Constitution
I can't respect them at all.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 30, 2009 07:26 PM
Curmudgeon, I sure hope so.
"Sensible immigration restrictions and controls will be the winning issue for the next few decades."
The thing is we have laws it is just our
politicans and many business owners that
don't want to follow them. deep sigh
I guess the immigration thing will be
next on Obama's awful agenda after the
healthcare and Cap and Trade.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 30, 2009 07:29 PM
Tom, yesss, and Reid and Leahy two of
my least favorite. Heck they all on the
left especially are my least favorite.
Posted by: Wild Thing at July 30, 2009 07:34 PM
