Sotomayor Questions: NRA Influence and Partisan Divide
The Senate begins debate today on Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court and could vote by the end of the week.
Sotomayor is expected to win approval by a better margin than the 58-42 vote for Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., which included four Democrats, according to the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. However she isn’t expected to fare as well as Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who was confirmed by a 78-22 vote, including 22 Democrats.
Since approval is assured, The Times sees just two remaining questions: “whether the National Rifle Association can claim to have swayed votes against her and whether President Obama can claim a victory for bipartisanship.” Eight of 36 senators who have been endorsed by the NRA plan to vote for Sotomayor.
But the Republican candidate for president in the last election has come out against Sotomayor. On Monday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., became the 27th Republican to announce a vote against Sotomayor, according to the USA Today story.
“An excellent resumé and an inspiring life story are not enough to qualify oneself for a lifetime of service on the Supreme Court,” McCain said. “I do not believe she shares my belief in judicial restraint.”
