Baucus: "No Idea" How I'll Vote On Sotomayor (UPDATED)

UPDATE: Sen. Baucus, after saying he didn't know how he would vote, has now committed to supporting Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

"I have long said that to be a Supreme Court Justice a person must meet three main criteria: personal integrity, professional competence, and a view of important issues that is within the mainstream of contemporary judicial thought," Baucus said in a statement. "After personally meeting Judge Sotomayor, thoroughly analyzing her judicial record, and reviewing her nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Sotomayor unquestionably meets each of these criteria. Thus, I am proud to support her nomination and will vote to confirm her as a Justice to the United States Supreme Court."

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Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), already under scrutiny by progressive Democrats, has created new cause for apprehension by saying he's not sure he will vote for the president's Supreme Court nominee.

Asked by The Hill whether he would support Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Baucus twice said he was still undecided.

"I have no idea," Baucus said. "I haven't paid any attention and I haven't announced ... I've been so busy with healthcare. It's under consideration. I'll certainly know when I vote, but right now I can't tell you."

He isn't the only wavering Democrat. Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) have been equally coy. Think Progress points out that both made their wobbly statements after the National Rifle Association decided to include the Sotomayor vote in their scorecards on lawmakers' gun rights' records.

Baucus and Begich both got an A rating from the NRA in 2008. Nelson got an A+.

The NRA has suggested Sotomayor has a radical record on gun rights; in fact, her rulings have always followed Supreme Court precedent and her decision on a Second Amendment case was unanimously upheld by three Republican appointees.

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Comments

[gjdagis]

This is the worst thing he's done yet . . . voting against our most important basic right, without with, all the others are totally useless. Without the power in the peoples' hands all "rights" are simply something an overbearing government may be nice enough to grant us if they feel like it!

[Jerry Rubin]

One of many Sen. to vote out of office, because of heath care!!!

[bascombe]

while he strips americans of the public healthcare option.

[bascombe]

while he dtirps americans of the public healthcare option.

[kevinw]

Baccus said he could not make a decision, then hours later he states that he has read her judicial recoed and reviewed the hearings. Three days of hearings and 3000 cases and he reviewed that in a couple of hours. I think all he reviewed was the progressive attacks that were about to come his way. Why do they allow this turncoat Democrat to be chair of a powerful committee.

[offred]

Ooops, I guess the NRA will refuse to fund Baucus's campaign AND take his guns away.

[whyisthis41]

Max aka " KLUNKER FOR CASH" Baucus is feeling the winds of change breathing down his scaly neck.

[roshni]

so what happened? I thought you weren't paying attention because you were busy counting your insurance company bribes....­.......

[roudy]

Baucus has turned into a disgrace and embarrassment to his state.

[springsm]

I know abit of Montana too, tho I don't live there and have decided I never will. It is a nice state. The people who live their are smug in the knowledge that they live there. Personnal growth is a joke but they seem pragmatice. And they did finally (FINALLY) get rid of conrad Burns after years. It is who will they replace Baucus with the next time around that is the question. Monana folks are pretty much in another age and not interested in the 21st century. However, they really are fine people. Terrirorial but hospitable.

[TJCole]

The only thing Max Baucus commits daily, are crimes against the best interest of the American people...!

He clearly is one of our most, if not the most corrupt, of all corrupt U.S. Senators..­.!

[bluesky49876]

Regardless how he votes on the Sotomayor nomination, every effort should be made to defeat this man in the next election. Let him run as a republican.

[roshni]

I completely agree.

[Prakosh]

I don't care whether he votes for Sotomayor or not. If he doesn't change his position on health care I will be moving to Montana with Palin, during his next election campaign to get his butt defeated.

[roshni]

You don't have to move with Palin. That is above and beyond the call of duty.

[whyisthis41]

Max is sooo concerned about health care that he, along with his $$$$ supporters are offering the following:
" Make Health Happen: Promoting Wellness and Prevention in Rural Communities :: August 9-10 :: Strand Union Building :: Montana State University
Sponsored by: Max Baucus :: Montana Office of Rural Health :: Montana Chamber of Commerce Foundation :: Flying Horse Communication :: Target
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana :: Humana :: Wal-Mart :: Novo Nordisk :: The Washington Companies :: PPL Montana :: REI :: Microsoft :: Walgreens
Schering-Plough Corporation :: YMCA :: Morgan & Myers :: South Cental Montana AHEC :: Western Montana AHEC :: Eastern Montana AHEC

[WillCooney]

Has Max forgotten that he works for the citizens of Montana? If they are telling him they want a public option then, he should suport it. Otherwise, he's working for the Insurance industry.

[maryjflyfree]

its amazing what a little pressure [applied properly] can do ! however, they should still throw the bum out!

[PACOLLEGEGIRL]

Co-sign!

[roshni]

throw him out!

[hpobserver]

I guess I must have missed something. I didn't realize there was any issue over any Democrat voting for this Democratic President's nominee. I thought all the questions were about which Republicans were going to vote for her.

[offred]

The issue is that the NRA has threatened to actively work against any senator of EITHER party who votes for Sotomayor. Baucus is sending the message that he's voting against the NRA's wishes.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/01/nra-threatens-on-sotomayo_n_249288.html