Cornyn to vote against Sotomayor [View All]

[cal04]

http://www.wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10784456

Republican Sen. John Cornyn, the head of his party's Senate campaign arm, said Friday he'll vote against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, siding with GOP leaders and conservatives who are lining up against President Barack Obama's nominee to be the first Hispanic justice.

The Texas Republican, whose constituents are one-third Hispanic, acknowledged that his decision to oppose Sotomayor could carry political risks and said he was announcing it with "regret and some sadness."

"Voting to confirm a judge — this judge or any judge — despite doubts would certainly be the politically expedient thing to do, but I don't believe it would be the right thing to do," said Cornyn, who said he came away from Sotomayor's confirmation hearings still wondering, "Who is the real Judge Sonia Sotomayor?"

(snip)
In the end, Cornyn said he believes "the stakes are too high" for him to support a nominee who might approach important constitutional issues like gun and property rights "from a liberal, activist perspective."