WASHINGTON (CNN) - It is part political reality - and, seemingly, part Republican strategy.
The longest-serving Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee tells CNN Radio that as things stand now, Sonia Sotomayor is headed for a Supreme Court confirmation.
"If there are no otherwise disqualifying matters here, it appears to me she will probably be confirmed," Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Thursday.
Hatch is acknowledging the Senate landscape. Democrats could have 60 votes in the chamber if Minnesota's Al Franken is seated, and they now hold a 12 to 7 majority on the Judiciary Committee.
But as he speaks to Sotomayor's strength, Hatch is also digging the first Republican battle line on her nomination: the schedule.
"If the Democrats don't overplay their hand and don't try to rush this too much, the process will go well, they'll be better off, she'll get confirmed," he said, again adding that is if no new concerns come to light.
(A report on the Republican battle line over Sotomayor after the jump)
The Utah senator and fellow committee Republicans Jon Kyl and John Cornyn, are pushing hard for a lengthened timeframe for debate. They say it is almost impossible to review Sotomayor's extensive record, debate her nomination and hold a Senate vote by August, as the White House hopes.
The opposition party usually fights for extensive time to try and find any hidden issues in a Supreme Court nominee's record. Hatch says senators need three months to consider Sotomayor, and that a vote should come after the Senate's August break, in September.
The White House wants confirmation before August, so that Sotomayor could set up her office and be ready for the Supreme Court's next term when it starts in October. A September confirmation vote would also complicate Democratic fights on health care and energy, which could then be at critical points.
But on the basic scheduling argument, Hatch insists a September Senate vote would still get Sotomayor on the bench in time for the new court session. The senator continued his strategic warning to Democrats.
"If they do it the right way," he said, "and there is no otherwise disqualifying feature to this, it is highly likely she is going to be confirmed as the ninth justice on the Supreme Court in time to sit on the court on the first Monday of October."
These are the strongest statements yet from any Republican about Sotomayor's chances of confirmation.
But they come with a political threat - a warning from Hatch that a vote before August would draw Republican fire.
From CNN Politics
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Remember......... Senator Hatch....... when Sonia Sotomayor was nominated by George H.W. Bush, she was confirmed by the GOP controlled Congress ....... without....... opposition.
We will expect the same now.
If she's been confirmed twice previously, then there shouldn't be any issue with this confirmation process. But you know the GOP, always in oppostion to everything.
No one cares what you have to say, Hatch. Sit down and shut up.
This is laughable. Just the fact that the republicans think they can make anything out of her nomination is just too funny. You are the minority now. Get used to it. She will be confirmed unless she commits murder between now and her swearing in. The Democrats won this one big time. There aren't enough collective republican votes to raise a toilet lid let alone block a nomination for Supreme Court. I do hope they try their darndest though as they will surely alienate Latino's and more women. All you will have left are pigs with lipstick and big fat white men.
Judge Sotomayor, is generally a very liberal jurist but she has also taken traditionally conservative positions. For example she helped out the pro-life community by sticking up for the Bush administration, saying they had the right to not spend public money on abortions. Wait a minute she suported Bush, that's it she it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonder how this is going to play out. The GOP would be wise to watch the rhetoric in assessing Judge Sotomayor. As long as she paid her taexs that is.
You can say it: she's in and deservedly so.
Who cares? In the end, it all amounts to rubbing elbows for a decision that pleases the President. Bring back morals, ethics and family values. Those things shouldn't be decided lightly or in courtrooms.
As the moral fibers begin unravelling, chaos begins to spin rapidly on the other end. America wake up and recognize you are killing yourselves. We are a great nation, so let's start acting like it.
Mr. Hatch, stop trying to jockey for stallmate position. What is with the delay. The Senate with it's God like status thinking has become a real joke to the american people. Get on with your jobs, for the good of the country instead of always trying to give the impression that your thoughts are so important.
Let's get her in so we don't have to hear about her 24/7 for the next 6 months!
Yawn!
She's more qualified than Roberts or Alito was... and Republicans just gushed over those two barely adequate justices. So Republicans can just shut up.. what a bunch of whiny cry-babies!!!
I can't wait to see how many MORE Republicans get voted out of office next election exactly because of this kind of irrelevent partisan politics!! Someone please start the countdown.... hahaha
They are the party of STOOPID!!
I do so hate Republicans, always looking for a political angle, after practically destroying this country. Ughhh
I have been reading on several websites the comments Sotomayor was "nominated by Bush 41 & confirmed etc..." Lets just remember one thing. 41 nominated her for one reason an that was so his other selections nominees would get confirmed. As they say she was the "token latina" at that time for the left, her nomination was pure politics so let's stop trying to make that nomination out to be more than what it was. Let's also remember that there were many rethgus (29 iirc) who opposed her nomination. Either way this confirmation will quick unless there is some major skeleton's that fall out of her closet.
Of course he 's going to say she will be confirmed, the GOP is trying not to ruffle the feathers of their own latinos, re elections is coming up and the good ole boys need their votes to, what a bunch of losers
I am an ultra-liberal progressive and even I have to admit that Hatch is making impressive sense for a GOPer.
al franken ? i thought he was on the jack ass t v show...... stuart smalley ... a senator ? .... lord help us .....
@ fake Sniffit
give it up...you can't possibly match my eloquence you drooling faker
Just as long as she is a fair person all should be ok, as for Rush Limbaugh he is one of the biggest racist on this planet, his operation chaos was nothing but a failure and now for the next 4 years all he will be doing is bad mouthing the President and everything and every choice he makes in an attempt to make sure his stay in the White House is only 4 years, in a time when people of all color need to pull together, Rush Limbaugh is one pathetic individual
I know she will be confirmed......I would not want to see it become a long drawn out distraction like the Franken - Coleman standstill......
My question is.......Is this person even a legal US citizen? Seeing that the majority of mexicans in this country are illegal. Leave it to obama to sweep this serious matter under the rug. As a leal US citizen, I'm confused as to why I have to follow the laws of this country, but illegal mexicans get the red carpet rolled out for them and don't have to follow any of our laws...FREE welfare, FREE healthcare, etc...off the backs of legal US citizens. No wonder this country is so messed up....
The media is so desperate for a story they will try to make something out of nothing. Until we turn the channel and stop watching these instigators we will continue to be dictated by these corporate hounds. The GOP is such a minority right now, what they have to say means very little to the majority who are very distraught over what they did to this once great nation.
"If the Democrats don't overplay their hand and don't try to rush this too much, the process will go well, they'll be better off, she'll get confirmed,"
Kind of a childish response, but not unexpected from mr. hatch.
The Republicans knew from the moment Sotomayor was nominated that she'd be confirmed. She has a stellar background. They knew all about each of Obama's shortlist considerations.
But, they saw the whole process, starting at the point of nomination, as an opportunity to attack, obstruct, and throw racial loaded comments Obama's way. The whole contrived fake responses came out immediately in unison through the ususals – Rush Limbaugh, Romney, Huckabee, Pat Buchanan, Sessions saying "She's a racist", "She's a reverse-racist", "She's a Latina", "She's uneducated", "She's not smart".
The GOP probably lost another good 5-10% from the remaining less than 20% of America that hasn't already left them. A ridiculously racist, sexist, and exclusionist party.
@ Sniffit........ I stand corrected. The Dems had a narrow majority back in '92.
Dutch/Bad Newz, VA May 28th, 2009 3:57 pm ET
If she's been confirmed twice previously, then there shouldn't be any issue with this confirmation process. But you know the GOP, always in oppostion to everything.
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You mean something like the respect the dems gave Alito and Roberts
Maybe we should make a list of Republicans that have been on TV shows? I'm sure the list would be impressively long (and lame!)
How convenient for Republicans to forget all of their celebrities, right down to Ronny being President!! Then again, being a Republican is all about convenient forgetfulness and short-term memory loss!!
So Lord, spare us from another REPUBLICAN celebrity!!!
Ya gotta love what one Republican strategist said last night. He said the Republican Party is like a piece of china that has been broken into pieces. Go ahead and opposed the Sotomayor nomination and might as well grind up the remaining pieces. He also said this opposition is not about whether Judge Sotamayor is qualified to sit on the Supreme Court, it is about getting even with the Democratic President because of the hypocrisy he has shown since coming to office. Is there any question remaining that the Republicans have a death wish as far as the party is concerned? Its not a wonder people are keaving the Republican Party and becoming Independants with lunacy like that. Rush can have all the leftovers!
But dems can't understand someone just making a decision based on merit. So naturally they expect that republicans will only think in us versus them terms. Just a difference in how we think.
"a vote before August would draw Republican fire."
Of it would. The last thing they want now is for her to be sitting when the same-sex marriage case is heard in the session starting in October. She's the 5th vote, because you know and I know that Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito don't give a steaming turd what the Constitution requires.
shucks: I voted republican in the last election and I don't consider myself a minority. If anything, Sotomayor is the minority because she is Puerto Rican, I am white. And after reading her statement from years back she is a racist towards whites. Give me a break. Plus this has been the most underhanded corrupt election in the history of the democrats. I just listened to the news about another democratic Chicago alderman being indicted along with seven others. What else is new.
Face it fellas, your party is almost in retreat mode. With only Rush and the media hacks out there to do the dirty work for you, you look like a bunch of flaccid old men. And now you are just mad at your own impotence.
And it shows just how soft and weak you guys really are. If it was me, I'd be screaming mad that they were just gonna roll over like the good lil pets they are. If they really thought she was that bad, they should fight against it instead of playing it safe for their political futures. Face it, no one in your party has the testicular fortitude to do anything but rely on their own survival instincts.
But don't worry....your 21% won't drop by much. Until the old men start dying off, that is.
@ Grrr-awful-ooo, who said "So naturally they expect that republicans will only think in us versus them terms."
Actually, it's based on the GOP's past and current behavior, not some looney freudian projection hiccup in our brains. Of course, the irony here is that you, another irrational GOPer minion, are projecting precisely what the GOP does onto the Dems by claiming that it is the Dems who do the projecting. Round and round the mulberry bush, the GOPers are such weasels...
with the GOP double loudmouths Newtie and Rushie already calling her a racist,(and that's a laugh in itself coming from those two a racist and an aldulterer) the GOP has already thrown a wrench into her confirmation. In fact in a way I hope the GOP DOES try to bring this nominee down. That will show the Hispanic population what the far right REALLY is, something other minorities learned a long time ago. Latinos which one time were in the GOP corner will open their eyes and see what they are dealing with and leave in droves and the fall of the once proud GOP will continue by allowing the far right wing of their party to take them to the point of no return.
Allen:
She was born in the Bronx, according to Wikipedia, to a Puerto Rican parents. Get your facts straight before you go stating things you know nothing about.
Good. But the Republicans need to shut their bloody mouths and stop behaving like whiny children. They need to do their jobs, not use attack politics.
Republicans don't think in terms of 'US' and 'THEM'? hahaha
Once again... another case of Republican short-term memory loss!!
Wasn't it the Bush Administration that said, 'If you're not with us, you're against us?' Wasn't there a whole BOATLOAD of Republicans that claimed if you dissented from Bush, you were guilty of TREASON?
Of course, now if you disagree with our current President Obama... it's not treason, you're just doing your patriotic duty. What a load of bunk, Republicans!!
One more reason why more of you will be given the boot come next election!!
Reality check: The tapdancing tantrum the GOP is having it's potential 2012 nominees engage in over Sotomayor has nothing to do with any sincerely held beliefs on their parts that she's not fit for confirmation. It is 100% related to fundraising. First, they're going to be hard pressed in 2010 to make any headway given the fact that the overall coniption fit they've been throwing has lasted almost 6 months and shows no signs of abating. Second, the nonsense they're all vomitting won't win them any new voters...it's solely designed to make their sour-grapes already-convinced true-believer fundy/extremist base all the angrier that their tribe isn't in control. They're just thumping the war drums in between thumping their bibles.
The only reason Obama chose Sotomayor is because he needs the Mexican and Puerto Rican votes not because she is qualified. I believe her to be a racist against whitesand since Obama is not white or black but mulatto they make a good pair together. She is not the only non-white he chose. Both Holder and Emanuel are minorities that don't know which way the wind is blowing. And she won' t either. Give it time and you will hear all the outcry in the Supreme Court.
Of course she will be confirmed. Democrats could care less about racism unless it originates from a white male. The dems are all hyprocrites.
I look at the minority party much the same as the defense counsel in a criminal case in this country. The defense counsel is there to make sure the government proves its case beyond a reasonable doubt and that the defendant's rights are protected. In the end, the government wins most cases. In the confirmation process, the minority party can and should raise questions to make sure the nominee is not confirmed with some disqualifying information about them going unnoticed or not found at all. Everyone is getting too crazy over this whole thing. Let these people do their jobs. Hatch basically said, "If there are no disqualifying matters, then she will be confirmed" What is wrong with that statement? Do we want her confirmed even if there are disqualifying matters?
Orin Hatch needs to get a life.
@Marinn – Sotomayor is every bit of an American – Just exactly like you.
Good thing we aren't going after your heritage, which is NONE better than Ms. Sotomayor's, by the way.
Marinn Pepitone May 28th, 2009 4:28 pm ET
shucks: I voted republican in the last election and I don't consider myself a minority. If anything, Sotomayor is the minority because she is Puerto Rican, I am white. And after reading her statement from years back she is a racist towards whites. Give me a break. Plus this has been the most underhanded corrupt election in the history of the democrats. I just listened to the news about another democratic Chicago alderman being indicted along with seven others. What else is new.
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So, still haven't figured out the difference between the news and propaganda yet? I'm white and the whole arguement that Sotomayor is a racist is completely and utterly ridiculous. And plus, being white, I'm alright to be humble when it comes to racial opression, white people have done enough to opress different races over the last few millenia.
Allen @ 4:24pm – She is not Mexican, she is Puerto Rican – A U.S. Citizen like you and I. Too much is being made of her ethic background...focus on her judiciary work as that is all that should matter.
@ Allen, "Is this person even a legal US citizen? Seeing that the majority of mexicans in this country are illegal."
Seek help.
@ Marinn Pepitone, who said "The only reason Obama chose Sotomayor is because he needs the Mexican and Puerto Rican votes not because she is qualified."
He already has them. Check the stats from November 4, 2008 before you simply believe what you've been told by one of the GOP's Grand Dragons. Claiming he's appointed her to get something he already has is completely inane.
Sniffit" She is not as fit for the Supreme Court as Judge Wood would have been. What were you reading lately. Let's be real. Obama didn't choose her because she was qualified, he needs the Latino vote in 2012 and she is his security. It has nothing to do with the republicans downgrading her. However, from what I read she has made some good mistakes as a judge and some nasty comments about whites. Well, I love being white. And I wouldn't want to trade places with her.
phoenix86 May 28th, 2009 4:39 pm ET
Of course she will be confirmed. Democrats could care less about racism unless it originates from a white male. The dems are all hyprocrites.
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AMEN TO YOUR COMMENT AND OH SO TRUE!
I don't really care about her remarks. All I care about is that she is capable of understanding the constitution and following it.
Also, I do believe she is racist. Everybody is, the difference is that only the white man is accused of it. If another race is accused of being racist it is swept under the rug, but a white male racist...He's attacked.
Just look at Jesse Jackson, or Al Sharpton...But that is not racism, that is civil rights....Whatever.
@ Marinn, who said "he needs the Latino vote in 2012 and she is his security"
The only subsection of the Latino vote he is going to potentially have to worry about is the south FL Cubans, but they're expenddable in the name of getting rid of that god-forsaken embargo that has never made any sense nor made any difference for 50+/- years. Again, you might want to carefully consider actual underlying factual data before you spout off at the mouth, not just what amount to conspiracy theories fed into your brain by those who know you're receptive to whatever they have to say even if it makes no sense.
Sotomayor will be sworn in and the Republicans will fail miserably if they try and attack this woman. Let me explain the Republicans strategy: TRY and pit whites against blacks and hispanics by instilling a fear that the 'white man is under attack.' and hope that us whites will become Republican. They're trying to bring up Sotomayor's Affirmative Action case but those that benefit the most from AA are WHITE WOMEN not ethnic minorities. My generation doesn't fall for race-baiting like older generations. It's such an old GOP tactic and it's so predictable.
Thanks Hatch for telling what we already know – Sotomayer will be confermed and the GOP can't stop it, but they do want to slow it down so they can OBSTRUCT some very big things coming during the beginning of the next session...
This is all about trying to fire up the base (for money) and trying to OBSTRUCT EVERYTHING the American people voted for... The GOP say they love America, but they seem to hate most Americans and seem to have little respect for the voice of the American people!
Thank GOD this party is irrelevant... and it was the American people that made sure of it democratically!
how about that dominion republic: My hertigate is 100% white. There are no minorites in my background. What about yours. She may be a citizen of this country like me but her quotes about the whites makes her a racist. Well, that's too bad. We are what we are and have to accept it. I am not fond of Mexicans or Puerto Ricans. If I owned a company whites and blacks would be my first choice. Besides that, you don't choose someone just to get the votes like Obama did you choose them because you think they are qualified for the job. Get real.
Marinn Pepitone, get used to it. This country is getting a little browner every day. It is our diversity that makes this country great. By the way, what tribe are you? Sioux? Navajo perhaps? Tuscarora? What's that? You're not in any tribe? I guess you're not a real American then. Go back to Europe where you belong. Have a nice day!
@Allen
Ms. Sotomayor was born in the Bronx, NY. The New York that's one of the states in the United States of America! That makes her a citizen.
Also, she's of Puerto Rican descent, not Mexican. And in case you didn't realize this either, they are two different places.
@Marinn Pepitone
Nasty comments about whites? Can you give me something besides a sentence from a speech 8 years ago, which, by the way seems to have been taken out of context?
Sotomayor has not made remarks that were "racist". Those are the delusions of the Grand Wizard and Newt.
She is not perfect (who is?) and may hold some surprises for those who now support her but there is nothing in her background that would preclude her from being confirmed.
phoenix86...can you possibly put up a post that is at least somewhat useful and at least half true?
It's hilarious watching republicans try and speak without sounding like morons. I can't wait until 11/4/10. Bye Bye GOP.
Hehe.. Orrin, have you got approval from Limbauth to say that?
Maybe Obama should have chosen Harriet Miers like Dubya did!!! Where was the Republican outrage then?
Both Lott and Frist were little more than silent on the subject, and there was very little either of those two were silent on back then (except their own scandals!!).
Republicans were so silent when she was nominated you could have heard a church mouse fart!!! hahaha
Carl from MI May 28th, 2009 4:13 pm ET
I can't wait to see how many MORE Republicans get voted out of office next election exactly because of this kind of irrelevent partisan politics!! Someone please start the countdown…. hahaha
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Yes because the dems never play "irrelevent partisian politics"
@ jj12345
Well under the dictatorship of George W. Bush, a confirmation hearing was the only chance of democrats getingt to do anything useful.
But the new republican party of NO must say No.
Allen:
Good Lord, you are a dope. I presume you also believe Obama is doing this because he too is an illegal alien (and a Commie, Satan worshipper, yada yada yada).
GT: al franken ? i thought he was on the jack ass t v show…… stuart smalley … a senator ? …. lord help us …..
Try Harvard degree in political science.... loser
It looks like the party of NO (Republicans) will leave "Pelosi" alone for a while now that they have Sonia Sotomayor they are trying to knock down. I am 74 yrs. old and was a Republican most of my life but I am now an Independent leaning towards the Democrats.
In these top positions the women can not be just as good as the in the Congress or Senate, they need to be 10 times better, more educated, more common sense and all around smarter.
I think "Sonia Sotomayor" is a threat to their manhood, I say get over it you will be smarter in the end.
Dutch/Bad Newz, VA May 28th, 2009 5:01 pm ET
@ jj12345
Well under the dictatorship of George W. Bush, a confirmation hearing was the only chance of democrats getingt to do anything useful.
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So then with your wisdom and the majority in congress and a dem in the white house, the republicians will be doing the same thing.
Melissa May 28th, 2009 4:35 pm ET
Good. But the Republicans need to shut their bloody mouths and stop behaving like whiny children. They need to do their jobs, not use attack politics
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Tell that to you leftist, socialist buddies!
Hey JJ... not like the Republicans do!! They are the masters of irrelevent partisan politics!! Enter Karl Rove.... Enter Rush... Enter Hannity... Enter Bill-O... Enter Ann...
It's irrelevent when it's not about the facts any more... and Republicans never let the facts get in the way of elections anymore!!
See Glenn Beck's visit on The View!! He's a FIX-ed News "Commentator"... he doesn't have to fact check or so he stated.
Confirming Sotomayor isn't about the facts with the Republicans, and you darn well know it. Like I said, Obama should have nominated Harriet Miers... I know you would have approved of her!!
Hmm, seems us Republicans forgot that we were very angry when they took the Lord Rush's quote out of context and used it against us(I hope President Obama fails), and yet here we are doing the exact same thing that the Democrats did.
So in turn, Republicans are not better than the Democrats. YAY!
Hatch you're a joke if you don't oppse her at all.
The Democrats opposed everything Bush did. You should return the favor to those crooked backstabbing people.
Hmm, seems us Republicans forgot that we were very angry when they took the Lord Rush's quote out of context and used it against us(I hope President Obama fails), and yet here we are doing the exact same thing that the Democrats did.
So in turn, Republicans act no better than the Democrats do. YAY!
I really hope that Judge Sotomayor does not read the ignorant comments some of you are posting. And by 'ignorant', I mean willfully ignoring facts and not even attempting to get the facts.
Some of you guys are just plain mean
@ Carl from MI
My thoughts exactly!