Presient Obama walks back Sotomayor comments-Is the Sotomayor nomination in trouble?

[Politics_Guy25]

Just watching MSNBC right now with Hardball with David Schuster and they have major breaking news coverage that the President in his interview with Brian Williams for the NBC special on Tuesday and Wednesday on life inside the Obama White House withdrew the Sotomayor comments on "wise latina experiences." Now, they say that she'll do this herself next week in private meetings with senators and say it in her confirmation hearings as well. This is bad bad bad bad. The W.H. should be on the offensive with this nomination the way that the W.H. was in 2005 during the Roberts nomination. You don't want the nomination battle framed by your opponents. That's what happened in 1987 (?) with the Bork nomination. The democrats of the day pounded Bork into the ground. Remember Senator Kennedy's dramatic speech for the ages on the senate floor the day of the nomination that sent the Reagan White House into full damage control mode. Killing the Bork nomination was probably one of the signature accomplishments of Senator Kennedy and thank god he did. However, I guess we got Bork in the form of Clarence Thomas in 1991 but at least Bork was killed. If you remember in 2005, the Harriet Miers nomination battle started off relatively all right but leaks of information by Drudge and conservative outcry eventually led the W.H. from strong defence to tepid defence to walkback to withdrawal.

One has to be careful here. The conservatives have placed the W.H. on the defensive with this nomination. They need to get back on the offence and rather quickly. I can see doing this by having her wow the senators in her private meetings next week and also by eventually delivering a coommand performance at the confirmation hearings that will leave the media breathless with praise.

However, tell me if you think I'm right with this bottom line: Right now, the Sotomayor confirmation is in trouble and the White House is on the defensive while conservatives are on the attack and framing the debate. However, through a skillful walkback next week in private meetings with the senate and through a performance for the ages during her confirmation hearings, the W.H. will place the GOP on the defensive and the Mayor nomination will end up with 70-80 senate votes.

Still though for a chicken little like me with something as important as a supreme court nomination where the stakes couldn't be higher for our president and our majorites, I don't like this at all. I want to see Sotomayor confirmed in a way that doesn't hurt the president's approval ratings and that doesn't give the GOP life.

Lastly, I do admit that David Schuster is a freak for even a hint of scandal. Remember his ridiculous attempts in December of 2008 to tie the president to Blagoivich. However, something like this when you're dealing with the 2nd most important decision (apart from war) that the president will ever make is not fun. If I'm going insane here, feel free to correct me. lol. I have a pit in my stomach. Maybe it's time for another week-long or so break from cable news.

[PretzelWarrior]

1. No. not even remotely.

[Jennicut]

2. When Cornyn of all people is telling Newt and Rush to STFU you know she is in

for the win...or confirmation.

[Politics_Guy25]

6. See that's what I thought Jennicut

I think I need to stop watching Schuster in particular. Just wish this had been not controversial at all. Would have been easier on my blood pressure. Anyway, gotta get back to work. Can't reply for a bit. Please don't flame me guys lol. Just find it easy to panic. Part of my personality.

I think the WH is doing exactly what it should do btw. I believe some democratic strategists in an interview with Politico last night said that the president should do this. So it's all good I guess.

[Jennicut]

17. Its okay to worry but lots of Senators approve of her, even some Rethugs

And many Rethugs do not want a fight to make the Repub party even more unpopular right now.

[lamp_shade]

3. Nope. Not at all.

[FrenchieCat]

4. I think this "to do about nothing"

that you are speaking of is a bunch of petty shit......or it must be a slow news day at MSNBC!

Sounds like you are drinking the MSM MSNBC Koolaid. I'd step back from the teevee without turning your back to it.....slowly, after turning it off. Use a remote, if you have one to power off the boob tube, as that would be even more prudent!

[sarah553807]

5. she has a 98% chance of being confirmed

the Republicans are just making noise,that's all

[ananda]

7. Nobody had to say a word about it.

The Reep fringers were hurting themselves
and the party with all this racist nonsense.

So Obama and Sotomayor are most definitely
taking a position of weakness in this regard.

The nomination is now tainted.. what that
means is that, down the road, Sotomayor
might hold back on her decisions or alter
them in favor of the rightwing.

Now THAT'S bad.

[CreekDog]

12. that's a pretty big conclusion to jump to

on the basis of not much.

[PretzelWarrior]

13. that makes no sense. why would she hold back when she has life time appointment?

Judge Souter was that kind of judge. He seemed middle of the road to conservative, but once he was appointed he became very liberal and all the conservatives could do was grimace.

[rvablue]

25. You're reasoning here is absurd!

It's a lifetime appointment, beyond reproach or political repercussions.

So, why in the hell would she "hold back" or "alter" her decisions "in favor of the right wing" in the future.

It would be just the opposite, once she is in, she's in.

[scrappydo]

30. President Obama is a chess player.....

....he is moving the pieces so he can checkmate the Republicans. What about that do you not get?

[jefferson_dem]

8. W.H. on the defensive with this nomination?

Have you not been paying attention? Seriously, the Repugs are in a box in a big way. Polls show Americans like the pick at least 2:1. News outlets are celebrating the roll out as near perfect. Only one low-profile Repug has come out firmly against her. The RNC Chair and opinion leaders are telling critics to back off.

This latest clarification is no big deal. It allows them to explain away *any* questions about her comments regaring being an Hispanic woman - as being "inartful". She will be the next Supreme Court justice. The only questions are

1. How many votes will she get - over under of 65?
2. How much stinky shit will the the Repugs heap on themselves?

[Thrill]

9. How did President Obama walk back anything??

I've heard nothing from Obama on this

[jefferson_dem]

11. Gibbs said this today.

“She was simply making the point that experiences are relevant to the process of judging. Your personal experiences have a tendency to make you more aware of certain facts and certain cases, that your experiences impact your understanding.”

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/05/white-house-says-judge-sotomayor-would-say-her-word-choice-was-poor-in-controversial-2001-speech.html

[Thrill]

19. Ok. Gibbs said that? The OP said Obama walked backed her comments

Every time Gibbs gives his opinion, doesn't been its Obama. Unless he says something like, The President thinks or The President believes

[Bucky]

10. You have to understand their strategy.

They have a quite disciplined message machine, as far as Democrats go. Their policy is to isolate the rightwing fringe of the Republican party--forcing GOP moderates to either look like wingnut lunatics on tv or act responsibly and get torn up by wingnut insurgents in the 2010 primaries. Plus, giving Obama a serious of slamdunk political victories will unnaturally extend his honeymoon period--perhaps even turning 60%+ approval ratings into his operational norm.

So, taking a little bit of the sting out of a silly joke the nominee made several years ago really isn't all that big a price to pay if it furthers an agenda that helps the Dems expand their voting base for a few more election cycles.

[ErinBerin84]

14. according to MSNBC

EVERYTHING is "breaking news". Really. It used to freak me out, but now I'm used to it from them. It's just the usual folks over there who are addicted to drama.

[Phx_Dem]

15. Literally true. Remember Obama/Biden's burger run a few weeks ago?

That warranted a "BREAKING NEWS!!" headline. ROLF.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

16. Breaking News: Obama and Biden stop for hamburgers!

[Pab Sungenis]

18. I'd welcome the withdrawal of the Sotomayor nomination

if I wasn't 100% certain we'd get someone worse. Every moderate on the Supreme Court has to be replaced by a moderate, and every liberal has to be replaced by a moderate, apparently.

[Bankhead_ATL]

21. i agree

[PretzelWarrior]

23. I think you'll be happily suprised. The dems are doing on the court....

what they unfortunately had to do in congress/Presidency. Do all they could to win enough big important battles through consensus building until the balance favors them again.

This all rests with Justice Stevens. He's the new swing vote now that Sandra Day O'Connor was replaced by a conservative thug like Alito. So, I think think having someone middle left is very important to work with the middle and get a few more 5-4's to go our way.

[Pab Sungenis]

24. I pray you're right.

But I still long for an unabashed liberal to take their seat on the court again.

[scrappydo]

31. And how do we know an "unabashed" appointment....

....with a liberal judge would a "liberal" judge when it comes to decisions? Bush 41 thought he had a conservative appointment in the bag for the Court - only to discover Souter turned out to be more of a moderate than an unabashed conservative?

[onenote]

20. since you asked: No, I don't think you are right with your bottom line

This nomination is not "in trouble".

[lonestarlib]

22. Probably a non issue for Sotomayor's nomination, but

I would like to see someone more progressive.

[rvablue]

26. OK. Two questions:

1. Please list three reason why you think Sotomayor isn't progressive enough.

2. Please list three people who you think would be more progressive if appointed to the Supreme Court.

You obviously have a wide breadth of knowledge of potential SCOTUS nominees and how they have decided cases in the past.

Please share with us.


((edit to add: I won't be holding my breath!))

[Captain Hilts]

27. Not at all. She'll be confirmed in a breeze. nt

[BzaDem]

28. No. Next question. n/t

[AlexanderProgressive]

29. No. Now Republicans can't criticize her for saying what she said originallyq

Since Sotomayor disagreed with the word choice anyway.