Lugar Becomes First Republican To Announce Vote For Sotomayor

Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court seemed relatively pre-ordained following four days of somewhat news-less testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Now, it seems, the one question remaining will be how many Republican senators will offer their support.

On Friday morning, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) became the first, releasing a statement of support for President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

"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," said Lugar. "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. 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."

Lugar does not sit on the Judiciary Committee, so his vote will only matter once Sotomayor's nomination is voted out of that committee. That, however, should not be much of a hurdle for the Court nominee as Democrats hold a large majority there, and some Republicans on the committee -- namely Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) -- have indicated that they will support Sotomayor.

UPDATE: Two more Republican Senators have said they will support Sotomayor: Sen. Mel Martinez, R-FL, and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine,

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Comments

[bluerednot]

Very shortly there will be enough confirmed "YES" votes so that there will not be a need to perform any dramatic transports of Kennedy or Byrd to the floor of the Senate.

[Mark Shoup]

Those of us who have stayed in Indiana know that thinking Lugar is a moderate is pretty much a myth -- he votes with the Republican majority 80 percent of the time! He voted with the Bush administration almost blindly -- and has a NARAL voting record of 0% And for gods sake, he voted for John Bolton's nomination. OMG.

[lifesucks]

Isn't it a good feeling to be able to say something nice about your party - instead of wondering if they've all lost their minds and their ethics?

[lazercat2008]

95% of the time with corporations and 100% with Christian Conservatives.

[Showme-Mo]

Thank you Senator for being brave enough to do what is right (proper) as opposed to doing what is Right (wing).

[cdembrey]

I hope you are happy now that the conservatives control the court.

She is pro business -- anti labor.

[lifesucks]

Sotomayor will be one of 9 justices -

[HeavyHitter]

Ironic, isn't it? That is, unless she's a stealth liberal (which I doubt). That she would meet so much resistance from the Republican Party is puzzling, unless it's all about race. I sure wouldn't give them credit for a "please don't throw me in the briar patch" strategy.

[dillydawg]

Cystal ball wisdom.

[dillydawg]

Well said and simply put.

[lagumbo]

Lugar is one of the sane republican left. I don't think there are many left, but I think maybe by election time the republican party will have found some others who is willing to get off their asses and begin to work for the good of the country. It is up to members of the republican party to get rid of all these other marons, who thinks about nothing but getting their pockets lined and putting lobbistist and money before country. Thank you Sen. Lugar.

[ChapStick80]

If only more members from both parties would vote for what is best for our country rather than their
self interest (men like Sen. Lugar) we will begin to see our country survive.Thank you Sen. Lugar.

[onepotatotwopotato]

This nation was founded on a set of fundamental freedoms. Our Constitution does not give us those freedoms - it guarantees and protects them. The right to defend ourselves and our loved ones is one of those. The individual right to keep and bear arms is another. These truths are what define us as Americans. Yet, Judge Sotomayor takes an opposite view, contrary to the views of our Founding Fathers, the Supreme Court, and the vast majority of the American people. We believe any individual who does not agree that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right and who does not respect our God-given right of self-defense should not serve on any court, much less the highest court in the land. Therefore, the National Rifle Association of America opposes the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the position of Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

[therblig]

Lugar beats Rifle

(and I know it's Luger)

[SweetBabu]

So? Does the NRA have a seat in Congress? I know they've tried to buy the GOP, but thankfully it looks like Lugar isn't in their pocket. And besides, the NRA appears to be uninformed about Judge Sotomayer. She doesn't want to take anyone's 2nd Amendment rights away, nor does the president. That's a whole big bunch of propaganda you're trying to sell.

[lifesucks]

Mix fear with guns - that's a potent combination.

[lifesucks]

So, let me see if I understand this...

Sotomayor will influence other justices to take a stand against our rights as Americans to defend ourselves and our love ones? Having that gun came in real handy on 9/11 didn't it.

[onepotatotwopotato]

Well, all commercial airlines are victim disarmament zones!

[chriss0114]

you are a mind reader?

Repugs have nominated for judgeships b4--is there something that says she wants to take YOUR guns away?

where?

maybe THEY should take your guns away

post your address and we will send the nice men in nice white jackets to make sure you and your guns are in a safe place so no one can take them away, OK?

[SweetBabu]

Lugar's one of the good guys. As I was saying to my brother-in-law, who's a registered Republican but seriously thinking of going independent because of how disgusted he is with the GOP, the "sane" folks in the GOP need to stick with it and vote the wac.kos out. They need to get more like Lugar in. He's no saint, but at least he's not a loony like Ba.chmann. It's up to registered Republicans to get their party out of the laughingstock status they're in now.

[proudcalib]

I totally agree. I grew up in a Republican household, but tmy parents were of the Rockerfeller variety: fiscal conservatives but socially liberal. They never voted Republican once the Christian right took over the party.

Lugar is a throwback to that era. If the GOP is looking to rebrand, he'd be a useful example.

[SweetBabu]

It's simply amazing to me that the GOP just keeps putting more and more nails into its cof.fin by allowing the nutcases to take over. They are absolutely unwilling to rid the party of them. While I am happy because I'm a liberal Dem who wouldn't mind seeing the GOP go the way of the dinosaur, it just defies all logic that they continue on in their own worst interests.

[lifesucks]

That is the only way to get your party back - vote out the ones who advocate extreme and erratic behavior. It doesn't matter how much money a candidate has - everyone only gets one vote.

[123dee]

A sane honest man in the republican party, Thanks Senator Lugar.

[eAthena]

I interned briefly for Sen. Lugar, and as a Democrat, I have always be proud and eager to say that I worked for Dick Lugar. Each day he came to work with one goal: do what's right by Americans. He's old school "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and I wish him well!

[theone718]

She may well touch 70 methinks.

[ChuckStake]

I predict the 80's.

[seehowtheyrun]

Thank You Senator Lugar.

[Fyrefly86]

One of the few sane, old-school republicans left. Almost extinct.

[drkazmd65]

As a former Hoosier (born, raised & educated - before escaping that state at age 29) I am not surprised to hear that Sen. Lugar will support Sotomayor's appointment.

Lugar is a holdover from when Republicans & Democrats were not always at each other's throats. He is one of the good(er) ones. That man has been Senator from Indiana since before I could vote (d@mn,... since 1976) and I had the pleasure of voting for him in 1982 and 1988 (and yes - I was then a registered Democrat) before I headed out of Indiana for good.

Hopefully - his vote of support will be the first of many.

[IDIOTA]

I forgot Lugar existed. He disappears when surrounded by wackos.

[blaharumph]

exactly. thanks lugar.

[Rickin00]

Well its great that Senatior Lugar is voting for her as he is a moderate Republican with a set of principles. Which means a rarity and most other Republicans won't agree with him.

[weatherwaxx]

The hearings have just been a photo-op for the good ol' boys do do a bit of weenie-waving for their cro-magnon "base." "See, we tried to 'expose' her, but those eviyal Dems were too much for us."

What a gang of thugs.