Graham to Vote “Yes” on Sotomayor
EmailABC News’ Jonathan Karl reports: Key Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says he’ll vote “yes” on the Sonia Sotomayor nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. “Elections have consequences,” the Judiciary Committee member said Wednesday on the Senate floor. “I choose to vote for Judge Sotomayor because she is well qualified. We are talking about one of the most qualified Supreme Court nominees in decades … Her record of academic achievement is extraordinary.” Graham says he may disagree with Judge Sotomayor’s legal philosophy, but chose not to employ the standard Barack Obama used when he was in the Senate and voted against Samuel Alito and John Roberts despite their qualifications because he disagreed with their philosophies. The correct standard, he said, is “the qualification standard.”
“I dare say, not one Republican using the Obama standard would vote yes,” said Graham. “I would not have chosen her if I were president, but I understand why President Obama did so and I am happy to vote for her.”
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John McCain’s “Mini-Me” gets in line… Who the hell would want to emulate “Insane McCain.” South Carolina deserves better, but will they demand it??? I must be getting old, I remember when Republicans voted like Republicans, and not where the wind (okay… STENCH!!!) was blowing!!!
Posted by: hmn | July 22, 2009, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
Good..now maybe stop fighting for corporate insurance rights over the rights of millions like me who can’t get health insurance.
Posted by: ryan | July 22, 2009, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
It’s ridiculous, this SCOTUS dance! When Roberts and Alito came before the Senate, THEY waffled and demurred and claimed they couldn’t comment, etc. etc., yet EVERYONE KNEW these guys were right-wingers who would uphold business interests over individual rights, were against abortion, for the police and against the accused, and so forth. Even though they never say a “peep” about their position on abortion, Bush & co. were 100% sure these nominees would send women back to the alleys and coathangers! So much for Republican nominee “impartiality”, right?
Posted by: AlChemist | July 22, 2009, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
Oh give us a break Lindsey. After bashing this nominee for weeks you Republicans are now all kisses and love knowing you have no chance to defeat her. The attacks were based only on the fact you people lost the election and Obama is President.
Posted by: nickCK | July 22, 2009, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
The Libs said she was a lock before the hearings even began. They were going to vote for her because their Savior nominated her. It doesn’t matter which Republicans vote for her.
Posted by: S | July 22, 2009, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
I don’t know why that’s a surprise. We elect congressmen and senators to be non-partisan. We expect them to critically analyze and investigate presidential picks for posts like the Supreme Court – then we expect them to weigh the facts and make a logical vote.
Why is it surprising when a senator does the job he was elected to do? We should have been more surprised by the fact that most senators DID NOT do their job in critiquing Sotomayor.
Posted by: maybe | July 22, 2009, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
Lindsay gives us a break. You should vote for a cat after the embarassment that Sanford put us through.
Posted by: Lizzie | July 22, 2009, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm
Congressmen and senators are elected to represent the viewpoints of their electorate and attempt to reach compromise in Washington. Both sides have acted solely in the interests of their respective party since 1994. Sen. Graham’s new “support” for Judge Sotomayor would be genuine if he hadn’t included a comment about “the President’s standard.” Here’s another clear example of political posturing.
Posted by: Sgt C | July 22, 2009, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
That is not a surprise. Phil Graham already said that Sotomayor will be confirmed unless she has a complete meltdown. Hey, if you can’t beat the Democrats, might as well join them. Alan Specter did.
Posted by: what667 | July 22, 2009, 8:54 pm 8:54 pm
Sorry folks, I meant to say Lindsay, not Phil Graham.
Posted by: what667 | July 22, 2009, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm
Cheney-Limbaugh in 2012! They will get 100 percent of the votes of the remaining 17 Republicans in the United States. Sotomayor is qualified on several levels, but the poor diminishing (except in girth) Republicans thrash about like fish in a barrel.
Posted by: Richard | July 22, 2009, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
Simply put, Ms. Sotomayor is being supported by Senator Graham for her qualifications and he was strong enough to admit as much. She will do our country proud….
Posted by: ed torres | July 22, 2009, 10:38 pm 10:38 pm
Liberals will nominate liberals justices and conservatives will nominate conservative justices. That is the way of politics. As long as there well Qualified and not total wackjobs( Robert Bork was well qualified, but a big was not operating on all thrusters)
Posted by: ARG | July 23, 2009, 12:01 am 12:01 am
This will go down in history as the worst appointment to the Supreme Court in the history of the Court.
Posted by: exjarhed | July 23, 2009, 1:16 am 1:16 am
The real reason Graham and other Republicans are now supporting Sotomayors appointment, isn’t at all about her qualifications, but the fact that she is Hispanic. Since they cannot defeat her nomination, by flip-flopping, they will now have ammunition to use in future elections. It will be said, to the 12% Hispanic population in 2010 and 2012, that Republicans supported her nomination. Since incumbent Republicans have viewed, and are on record, stating that Hispanics are an inferior race, they think this show of support will change that perception. Also her appointment will not change the present leaning of the court, so the Republicans will now support her and will battle the next two nominations that will likely fall to President Obama when Stevens who is 88 and Ginsberg who is 75 retire, which will likely happen in the next four years. This plan was exposed on the right winger Dennis Miller radio talk show a couple of nights ago.
Posted by: devilkev | July 23, 2009, 2:13 am 2:13 am
I agree with ARG. Liberals will nominate Liberals and Conservatives other conservatives. What else would you expect? Ths woman is qualified as was Roberts and Alito and she will serve on the bench as they do.
Posted by: dk | July 23, 2009, 2:16 am 2:16 am
Cheney-Limbaugh in 2012! They will get 100 percent of the votes of the remaining 17 Republicans in the United States. Sotomayor is qualified on several levels, but the poor diminishing (except in girth) Republicans thrash about like fish in a barrel.
Posted by: Richard | Jul 22, 2009 10:06:27 PM************************
You might want to check the records. You will find that the Rep. party has stayed about the same in numbers. Now the Dems in the last few months have been losing lots of support. From all indications right now 2010 may be a very bad year for the Dems. They are going down the same road they did before and that is bad for them but a lot worse for the US Citizens.
Posted by: Robert | July 23, 2009, 4:28 am 4:28 am
exjarhed – I doubt it. I’d say Justice Thomas has a lock on “worst”. I actually think she’ll surprise everyone with her talent and experience.
Posted by: 63tango | July 23, 2009, 10:39 am 10:39 am