Lugar becomes first Republican to back Sotomayor

[cal04]

Source: CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Indiana Republican Dick Lugar Friday announced he intends to vote for Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the Supreme Court, becoming the first senator in his party to formally state support for President Obama's pick to the high court.

"I have listened to the testimony of Judge Sonia Sotomayor before the Senate Judiciary Committee, carefully reviewed her public service record, and reviewed recommendations from Indiana constituents and colleagues here in the Senate," Lugar said in a statement.

"Judge Sotomayor is clearly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court and she has demonstrated a judicial temperament during her week-long nomination hearing. Judge Sotomayor has had a distinguished career of public service," he also said. "She is well regarded in the legal community and by her peers. I will vote to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States."

While Sotomayor's confirmation appears all but certain, it remains unclear exactly how many Republicans will support the current appeals court judge when her nomination comes up for a vote on the floor.



Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/17/lugar-becomes-first-republican-to-back-sotomayor/

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Lugar previously voted to confirm Sotomayor to her current spot on a federal appeals court.
http://www.kswo.com/global/story.asp?s=10744167

[FreakinDJ]

1. As if RATpubliCONs have a choice

She is "Squeaky Clean", Well qualified and has an impeccable resume

[cal04]

2. 3 Senate Republicans Endorse Sotomayor

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/17/AR2009071701310.html?hpid=topnews

Three Senate Republicans yesterday endorsed Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court, giving increased momentum to securing President Obama's choice a place on the high court by early August.

Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.), former chairman of the Republican National Committee, joined veteran Sens. Richard G. Lugar (Ind.) and Olympia J. Snowe (Maine) in support of the first Hispanic nominated to the Supreme Court. The senators dismissed allegations from some of their GOP colleagues, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), that Sotomayor had shown herself to be a partial jurist because of speeches in which she said a "wise Latina" could be more likely to make better rulings than a white male judge.

"Judge Sotomayor is knowledgeable of the law, would be a fair and impartial judge, and seems to have a good understanding of the limited role the judiciary plays in our democracy," Martinez said in a statement.

None of the endorsements was particularly surprising; instead, the significance came through Martinez's and Lugar's standing. Lugar is the Senate's senior Republican, first elected in 1976, and he has long been a leader of the Foreign Relations Committee, while Martinez is the only Hispanic Republican in the Senate.

[Wednesdays]

3. K&R

:kick:

[cal04]

4. McConnell to oppose Sotomayor nomination

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/07/18/McConnell-to-oppose-Sotomayor-nomination/UPI-70371247919615/

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., says he will oppose Judge Sonia Sotomayor's bid to join the Supreme Court, even as other GOP lawmakers have endorsed her.

In prepared remarks to be delivered to Congress Monday, McConnell says Sotomayor has displayed an "alarming" willingness to treat people unequally under the law, CNN reported.

"Judge Sotomayor's record of written statements suggest an alarming lack of respect for the notion of equal justice, and, therefore, in my view, an insufficient willingness to abide by the judicial oath," McConnell said. "This is particularly important when considering someone for the Supreme Court since, if she were confirmed, there would be no higher court to deter or prevent her from injecting into the law the various disconcerting principles that recur throughout her public statements."

[indypaul]

5. I'm still waiting for Sen Lugar

to fully explain his part in the introduction and
passage of The Commodity Futures Reorganization Act
of 2000. Better known as the "Enron Exemption Act."
One of the root causes of our current economic melt down.

[No Elephants]

6. So far, Obama has nominated two judges and Lugar has approved both.

[MaineDem]

7. Olympia Snowe has also said she'll support her

A good vote for Snowe. Wonder what her evil twin will do?