With debate beginning today on the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and its 111th member historically, there are still seven senators who have not declared how they would vote, but the most prominent one of the group of eight before yesterday HAS decided, and the answer is NO. Whether any of the remaining seven will follow his lead seems likely, with little hope of any open mindedness by this small, undeclared group.
I am referring to Senator John McCain of Arizona, the Republican nominee for President in 2008.
Senator McCain had declared on a talk show on Sunday that he was still undecided, but overnight he made up his mind and decided he could not back Sotomayor.
This is very disappointing, as there is no good reason to oppose her nomination, particularly with Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee declaring that while they were not perfectly satisfied with Sotomayor, she was qualified,  and the President, by winning the election, was entitled to who he wanted on the Court. Another conservative, Richard Lugar of Indiana, also showed statesmanship by backing Sotomayor. Additionally, Mel Martinez of Florida supported her confirmation, along with Maine Republicans Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.Â
Even more disturbing was Florida Governor Charlie Crist, running for the Senate in 2010 to replace Mel Martinez, stating that were he a member of the Senate, he would vote against Sotomayor. On what grounds, Governor Crist? 🙁
The one thing that stands out is that states with Republicans in the Senate and a potential Republican in the Senate saw opposition, without recognition that it leaves the appearance of being anti Latino and anti Hispanic for the FIRST Hispanic or Latino nominee in the history of the Supreme Court.  I am referring not only to John McCain of Arizona and Charlie Crist of Florida, but also Jon Kyl of Arizona and John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.
If this situation continues to occur, over time we will see Arizona, Texas and Florida, with large Hispanic populations, starting to move over to the Democratic party support.  And it will be through no fault than that of the Republican party itself, which continues to have its head in the sand about its electoral future. Continue to alienate women, Hispanics, blacks, young people, and suburbanites, and you will remain a minority party for the long term, not the short term!