Crist opposes Sotomayor nomination
by Michael C. Bender | July 21st, 2009This story was printed July 22 on page 2A of The Palm Beach Post.
Republican Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday that he would not support U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor because she “lacks respect” for the nation’s gun laws.
Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2010, said Sotomayor is “worthy of respect” and applauded her “remarkable story of success.”
“However, I have strong concerns that Judge Sotomayor would not strictly and objectively construe the Constitution and lacks the respect for the fundamental right to keep and bear arms,” the governor said in a statement.
Sotomayor is widely expected to become the first Hispanic female on the high court and has received support from U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla.
Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday put off its vote on Sotomayor for a week amid objections from the panel’s conservative Republicans.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, DVt., the committee chairman, said his panel would vote on Sotomayor s nomination on July 28 and expressed confidence she would win confirmation by a bipartisan vote of the full Senate in time for the Supreme Court’s first meeting Sept. 9.
Crist’s announcement was pasted by Florida Democrats, who accused him of pandering to the conservative voters he’ll face in a Republican primary next year with former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.
“By coming out against the nomination of Judge Sotomayor, Crist once again shows that his only core belief is personal ambition,” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman said.
The leading Democrat in the Senate race, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, was among Sotomayor’s earliest supporters for the court nomination.
Rubio’s campaign also questioned the statement, pointing out that Crist appointed Circuit Judge James Perry to the state’s Supreme Court despite loud objections from the National Rifle Association.
The statement from Crist comes after he told reporters Thursday that he was busy making his own judicial appointments and had not had time to review Sotomayor’s record.
But after Crist held a fund-raiser at the home of The Real Housewives of New York City star Jill Zarin on Saturday and collected campaign money in Washington on Monday and Tuesday, Rubio and Democrats questioned how much effort he was putting into governing the state.
Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos said the Miami Republican would be in Washington today.
But “unlike his opponent,” Burgos said, Rubio “will be available to answer reporters’ questions about his campaign, the Sotomayor nomination, health care … and, well, any other pressing issue of the day that a Senate candidate should have an opinion on.”
Here’s Crist’s entire statement:
“As Governor, I have had the honor of appointing dozens of judges, in both the appellate and trial courts. Selecting a judge, particularly to a supreme court, is one of the weightiest and most important decisions any elected executive can make.
“While I have not had the opportunity to meet personally with Judge Sotomayor–a crucial step in the selection process–I have reviewed and reflected upon her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and come to the conclusion that I cannot support her appointment to the United States Supreme Court. Judge Sotomayor is worthy of respect for her many accomplishments and her remarkable story of success.
“However, I have strong concerns that Judge Sotomayor would not strictly and objectively construe the constitution and lacks respect for the fundamental right to keep and bear arms. For these reasons, I cannot support her appointment to the highest court in the land.”
Tags: Charlie Crist, Sonia Sotomayor
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July 21st, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Who cares what Governor Crist thinks?
These are comments from an elected official who has done very little to lift this state out of recession and who thinks he can rest on his laurels to the point that the Governor’s office bores him so he’s seeking election to the Senate!
July 21st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
“While I have not had the opportunity to meet personally with Judge Sotomayor”–a crucial step in the selection process.
While I respect your opinion as well as the opinion of others, I find it interesting that you make an assessment of how you think the Judge would possibly rule on issues and you’ve never had a conversation with her.
You, Governor, . . . just lost my vote!!! I have strong concerns that you have fallen in-step with Rush and the other GOP haters’. I truely thought you were the people’s Governor, but you’re with the party of NO!!!!
July 21st, 2009 at 5:51 pm
This is a really good call on Crist behalf.
She is as far left as one can be and she does not strike one as being true to the Constitution. Our founding Fathers who decried “govenment knows best”, and created a Bill of Rights that exist in no other country.
Regarding name calling, please, if you want to live in a country that allows no oppostion to the socialist/ communist mentality -move to Cuba!
July 21st, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Governor, With your comments about Judge Sotomayor. You have just lost my support for you.
July 21st, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I too oppose Sodomyor
July 22nd, 2009 at 12:52 am
Charlie Crist is an opportunistic political hack. Who cares what you think? Don’t you and Kottkamp have a (state) plane to catch?
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:58 am
who cares what our soon to be GAY ex gov thinks. just cause u got married to female doesnt make u straight charlie. thanks for bailing on florida !
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:16 am
Every day Gov. Crist validates why I did not vote for him and never will. It is nice to say I Told You So to my friends that wasted their vote on him.
July 22nd, 2009 at 6:48 am
As a Hispanic woman, I do not support Sotomayor either. I put the Constitution way above my ethnic background. Others should do the same. The race card only works on those who truly are prejudice against other races.
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:06 am
It is nice to hear that someone else shares my opinion about not approving Sotomayor — on another note, it means nothing more then another persons opinion when it comes from Charlie Crist. Although I agree with Charlie, he should look in the mirror and pass judgement on himself before passing jusdgement on others. Definitely one of the worst Governors our state has ever seen. The only real accomplishment of Charlie’s administration is figuring out how to run out on Florida when it needs guidance the most.
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:20 am
Really? Another ego-centric, privileged, white male member of the rapidly fading Good Old Boys Club wants to dismiss yet another highly qualified, articulate, hard-working, accomplished member of the “other people.” Reality bites, Charlie. The world and this country are changing (finally) and you and your 20% of the country can whine all the way to total irrelevance. Hey, maybe you can be a guest on Limbaugh’s show!!
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:37 am
The Guv needs to spend more time on making his own appointments rather than researching those of the President. We had a WMD seat sit empty for a year and others for many months while he played politcs.
We had a county commission seat vacant for three months even after Greene announced with two months notice that she would be resigning.
He has been a complete disappointment, and unfortunately his legacy will haunt us for generations because of the U.S. Sugar buyout.
I’ll never vote for him again.
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:43 am
I strongly agree with Thank Goodness! Thank YOU!
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:51 am
Judge Sotomayor thinks the second amendment does not apply to states, despite knowing all of the bill of rights pretty much applies to the states. She also thinks we need to look at the results of a test by race and see how the people as broken down by race score on the test to determine if it is legitimate. That should say enough, it doesn’t matter if you like Christ or not, even if he just happened to get this right, dislike for him does not lend Sotomayor any credibility.
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:52 am
Charletta! You have a lot of nerve talking trash about someone you know nothing about. You’re a disgrace and have done absolutely nothing for Floridians, so who cares about your opinion? No one! That’s who! Get lost! You lost my vote as well. We supported you when you were nearly snatched out of the closet, but yet you chose to start a media frenzy with announcing wedding vows to a woman whom i realize is to smart amd way to gorgeous to marry you!
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:19 am
christ kind of sound like rush the fagg lumbar’get it.he has more trouble in the state of florida to deal with.if he concentrate on fla mabe he can do what we voted him into office for.I voted for him because hes gay.now he wants to kick over the latter now that an hispanic judge appointee has been selected by our pres.obama SHAME ON YOU CHARLIE GAY CHRIST.I VOTED FOR YOU INSPITE OF YOUR GAYNESS.NEVER AGAIN.run your state and leave the white house to the president.
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:22 am
he is just throwing a bone to the far right, as it doesn’t mean a hill of beans what he thinks about her. being the centrist that he is, he would vote for her if he DID have a say in it.
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:25 am
I am laughing very hard now. This Governnor who could not select from a
list of candidates a judge in Florida-until he was forced to…is critizing
Ms. Sotomayor. The kettle calling the
other kettle black. What a hypocrit
Choo Choo Charlie is. This past weekend
he was on LongIsland drumming up contributions while other Governors
were at a conference working on budgets.
Charlie-if I were you I would wake up-you are losing the few people who voted
you in as Governor. Try finishing one job before expecting to get another one.
I voted for him once, but I will definitely not make the same mistake!!!
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:28 am
Crist shouldn’t cast stones. acting like all the other people are perfect in there decision. let her do her thing, and if she “F”‘s up, was can vote her out
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
Ignorance is bliss. What our forefathers had in mind was not what “those” fear-mongering Reps want you to think; they just know we are too dumb to know difference. Our founding fathers understood that it should be left up to the states to make their own laws, basically. The “right to bear arms” seems to be the primary reason for his choice, however, I disagree on its interpretation. Very, very fearful white men in power are more fearful of nothing that those “other people”–whomever they may be.
Marijuana laws exist because William Randolph Hearst needed to defeat the production of hemp, which was a competing industry. To accomplish this, he falsely stated that marijuana makes Mexicans and Blacks wild and crazy and they will rape and kill white woman.
This “so blown out of proportion” Right to bear arms, in my opinion, was necessary when we were a fledgling republic without an organized federal military. I believe today, they would clarify their words, to reiterate their opinion, that it should be left up to the state, not a federal mandate, to have the right to bear arms. A resident in a farm town in Wyoming should be allowed different rights that a resident of NYC. A rural area is different than an urban one.
The hysteria the Republican party is continuously manufacturing is perpetrated by those in power that are again, fearful, of losing it–and having Mexicans and Blacks going crazy and raping and killing their white woman. These are the sames people that think Sarah Palin is a candidate for President. Or those that cast dispersions at Clinton and demanded a resignation, but don’t do it themselves when “outed”. They have absolutely no integrity, but that seems to be OK for the fearful Republicans. Too bad though, because I know of very worthy candidates in the Republicana party that truly care about this country–they just may not be as “purty”.
Lastly, Sotomayor beleives in a womans right to choose–as do I. Everyone has a right to their opinion, but let me ask you a question–Do you think this would have ever become an issue if men had babies? This whole exercise is just another way for men to control woman. Funny how they, again, are fearful of Sotomayor being a racist, yet all the laws are slanted in their favor. What a joke.
Again, you have a right to believe whatever you like–but Sotomayor believes in the State’s right to make their own decision on the right to bear arms; and she believes in the right to choose. What is so wrong with that? And don’t bring “The Bible” into this because we need to keep it an intelligent conversation… All do respect to my spiritual brothers and sisters–that comment certainly wasn’t directed towards you. Only those that stand on their high-horse, casting dispersionss an others, professing to be Christian, yet having to idea what love, tolerance, understanding, compassion and being a true Christian is all about.
God bless.
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:38 am
Governor Crist has done nothing for the state of Florida, and now, to top off his unsuccessful governorship, he quits. Why? He can’t solve any of Florida’s grave problems, so rather than try… he abandons.
Crist is a quitter and now shows he’s anti-hispanic. He has ambition for higher office, but what has he done here in Florida? Why on earth should we support him and give him our votes?
He and Palin deserve each other.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:08 am
Charlie as an opportunistic, self hating homosexual. He claims to have balanced the budget, but he did it with borrowed Federal money. He doesn’t want to be Governor, he wants to be President using the Senate as a stepping stone and stepping on all the residents of Florida. Just another political hack.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:19 am
Regarding the “right to bear arms”.
Please name one communist country that allows thier slaves, I mean citizens to own a gun.
The Bill of Rights is what sets this country free from those who want to enslave all people- as they have in China, Cuba, and most of Europe.
We have it good here! Go live in in Cuba for a year & you will get Obama’s dream for Amerika. Free medical care, free housing, no guns, no elections. I mean why do you need elections ? You have the ultimate liberal utopia.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:19 am
crist who, is he republican got to be , let face it , this woman will be the next and first latina in the supreme court of the united states of the world.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:35 am
This is just a political move. He got in do-do with the GOP, so he’s just looking for their support. What does it really matter if he doesn’t support the judge?
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Mr, Christ,
get off the dole. you’ve served. The people thank you. Now go home. Go back to your private life. Quit trying to make a life and a million bucks off the people.
One fundamental ill in our republic is professional leaches, oops, politicians like you. The founding fathers were correct in the vision of the citizen statesman. Serve briefly and GO HOME with the people’s thanks… Mr. Christ, it’s time to say adieu to your perks and privileges public office affords you