Why did Crist reject Sotomayor? This makes absolutely no sense to me

[CatWoman]

:shrug:

"Who are you pandering to? And why now?'' asks the Florida Democratic Party of Gov. Charlie Crist's decision to oppose the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. His Republican Senate rival, Marco Rubio, argues that his position contradicts his record of appointing "liberal'' judges like James Perry, who like Sotomayor, was crititicized by the National Rifle Association.

Indeed, Crist's rejection of Sotomayor -- even though she is likely to be easily confirmed -- was unexpected, especially considering her potentially historic position as the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court. In fact, the governor was recently rapped by the state's high court for rejecting a list of judicial nominees because he said it wasn't diverse enough.

The governor's position on Sotomayor risks angering leaders in the Hispanic community, which he failed to win over in his 2006 election despite his party's traditional hold on the fast-growing voting bloc. He''ll need Hispanic support to win a general election in 2010.

But it's the conservative wing of his party that dominates statewide primaries. Though Rubio is not viewed as a major threat, his energetic and passionate defense of conservative principles have gained him more traction that many expected. As the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza put it, Crist is taking a "better-safe-than-sorry" approach.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2009/07/why-did-crist-reject-sotomayor.html

[LeftishBrit]

1. I'm a bit confused? - do governors even have a say on her confirmation?

I thought it was only Congress that did.

[liberal N proud]

4. Only the Senate gets to vote on SCOTUS nominations

I would guess the media is looking for anyone they can to speak out against Obamas nomination, no matter who it is.

[bdamomma]

7. desperate measures by desperate men.

she will get appointed.

[valerief]

2. Who cares about governators? And Repub ones at that! Crist

is the guy who took water rights away from Florida residents and gave it to a handful of people.
http://www.tallahassee.com/article/200990630011
He wants beachside oil drilling. He's a Republican!!!!! He doesn't care about justice or the commonwealth. Sheesh.

[imdjh]

3. If Rubio runs against Crist, Rubio wins, and not because he's Cuban-American

He's young and attractive and presumed to be heterosexual. He has a very straight forward way of speaking and a candid manner in comparison to Crist's slimy political manner.

Being Cuban won't hurt Rubio, for sure, but it's not the real reason he could beat Crist hands down.

[WI_DEM]

5. I guess they are asking his opinion becuz he is running for senate? otherwise who cares?

[izquierdista]

6. He didn't see her birth certificate?

:shrug:

[CatWoman]

9. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:rofl:

[valerief]

10. LOL!!!! Birth certificates are invisible to Republicans!!! nt

[izquierdista]

13. I think we are on to something here

This birth certificate thing could be a new way to humiliate the stupid. Can we get some plants to go to Repub fund raisers and wave their birth certificate with the American flag? They wouldn't dare throw you out, or they would piss of their base even more, no matter how crazy your rant is. Or am I just being mean and making fun of the mentally impaired?

[valerief]

14. It's okay. They're mentally impaired and won't understand. nt

[monmouth]

8. Charlie has lost his mind if he thinks this will attract the fundys in the

Panhandle and northwest Florida area. I think that's what this is about. He knows she's going to be confirmed, this is just a ploy to that nutty base he's trying to appeal to.

[peekaloo]

12. trying to win back the ones he lost by backing Obama's stimulus.

Crist is a weasel. I'm thoroughly dismayed seeing the numbers this guy pulls in Florida on the basis of popularity. Opportunistic career politician.

[monmouth]

17. What you say is true, but many Dems like myself kind of like him because

he constantly went against Jeb. Anyone who went up against Jeb in this Red State (I know it's blue now but not back then)admired Charlie for it. I also fought like hell for him when the stories about him being gay (don't know, don't care if he is or is not)became fodder. It had nothing to do with his abilities to fight the repub machine and Jeb. I'll always admire him for that.

[peekaloo]

18. Just to show I'm not completely one-sided

Rubio (Jeb puppet) is an even bigger weasel. ;-)

:hi:

[monmouth]

19. That he is....n/t

[BolivarianHero]

11. Hmmm...

If too many liberal judges are appointed, Crist might be pressured out of the closet owing to the change in culture that it may hekp bring about. :D

[spanone]

15. he has no vote or voice in the matter...his opinion means no more than my dogs

:shrug:

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. Crist is much more afraid of Marco Rubio than of Kendrick Meek

Florida Republicans are starting to catch on to the fact that Crist is not a conservative.

BTW, he is not a moderate, nor is he a liberal. He is whatever he thinks he needs to be to win the next election.